Allendale Dirty Deeds

Allendale Brewery is based in the market town of Allendale in Northumberland, deep in the North Pennines — a genuinely remote and beautiful part of England that produces beers with a corresponding sense of character and independence. Dirty Deeds is one of their more boldly named releases, suggesting something dark and not entirely above-board. The beer itself is a dark ale that leans into the rich, roasted end of the spectrum — a Christmas Eve beer with real depth.

Tasting Notes

Dirty Deeds pours a very dark brown with a tan head and a nose that’s immediately rich and inviting — roasted malt, dark chocolate, some dried fruit, and a faint smokiness that adds intrigue. On the palate it’s full-bodied and warming: dark malt character leads with chocolate and coffee notes, dried fruit building through the mid-palate, and a long, smooth, slightly bitter finish with lingering roast. It’s a serious dark beer with plenty to explore.

Verdict

Serve at cellar temperature and savour it — this is a beer for a cold evening rather than a quick session. Dirty Deeds pairs beautifully with Christmas pudding, mature cheese, smoked meats, or dark chocolate. Allendale are an underrated brewery producing genuinely excellent dark beers, and this is one of their best. A proper winter warmer from the North Pennines.