Full Circle Brew Co is a brewery I don’t believe I have ever had a bad beer from. Their brews are consistently delicious and innovative. The beer I am reviewing today is called Wellbeing Day which is 6.4% IPA which in fact was brewed with the input of local members of the craft beer community. Based in the Newcastle area, this one definitely caught my interest and I had to review it. So during the course of my review I will cover the history of this brewery and beer, the pour, the taste and aroma and finally my verdict. Cheers.
Pride of the North East
Full Circle Brew Co was founded in 2019 by Ben Cleary. Ben came from the family that is responsible for Lanchester Wines and the family has a history in beer industry by running numerous pubs. Before Full Circle, Ben ran the Pip Stop in Maiden Law, Co Durham which was an alcohol retailer. Interestingly enough I had visited this place numerous times as I went to pick up continental beer options such as Quilmes, Alhambra and Hofbräu Dunkel. As a former resident of Stanley, I certainly knew the influence that the family had on the local area in terms of employment and the community. The name Full Circle is meant to represent the idea of the family returning to its roots.
The brewery itself is located in Hoults Yard, Newcastle and currently use then old railway building to house a 3,000l brewing kit. Full Circle has a major focus on sustainability such as using a Nitrogen generator to reduce C02 usage by 83% and aim to reuse spent grain and yeast in many ways such as feed or briquettes. As of 2025, they now produce 10,000hl of beer per year and employ 22 staff.
The head brewer of Full Circle is Alex Redpath, who was educated at the Sunderland based Brewlabs which famous worldwide for its teachings in the art of brewing. I have visited their taproom before and I definitely recommend. Their philosophy centres on ‘full bodied, full-flavoured beers’. Over the years, they have invested in quality control, yeast management and efficiency whilst also engaging in community projects such as charitable and sustainability- focused campaigns.
Full Circle Brew Co Wellbeing Day IPA is a seasonal offering by the brewery which is a New England IPA style. It carries an ABV of 6.4% and is according to @beerbayben on Instagram is brewed with a 25% grain bill of wheat and oats. The hops included is a whirlpool bill of Mosaic and Columbus, as well as an equal split dry hop bill of Riwaka, Nectaron and Citra. Wellbeing Day was created by local members of the craft beer community and fellow enthusiasts (one of which got a day off to do it, hence the name of the brew) and I will list their Instagram handles to check them out.
Contributors:
Give them all a follow as they are all craft beer enthusiasts who post interesting content from the North East area.
A hazy pour
When poured, Full Circle Brew Co Wellbeing Day presents a yellow to golden pour which almost glows when in the light. The presentation is that of a typical hazy IPA which is unfiltered and opaque appearance, giving it the typical juicy smoothie look. A thick foamy head forms which was retained pretty much fully during the session. The head did cling tightly to the glass leaving a decent amount of lacing. The carbonation was lively but not aggressive with a steady and fine stream of bubbles present. Overall, this was an inviting and juicy looking IPA which signalled freshness.
A hop forward and juicy flavour profile
Aroma
On the nose, Wellbeing Day produces a vibrant and hop forward aroma. Explosions of tropical fruits are immediately detected with flavours of pineapple and mango present along with stonefruits such as peach. It then leans into the citrus side by emitting aromas of grapefruit and lemon zests. An earthy resinous edge adds a bitterness which helps keep the aroma balanced. A sweetness is present due to the malt backbone but this takes a step back to allow the hops to shine. Overall, a bright, fresh and incredibly juicy smelling aroma.
Taste
On the palate, Full Circle Wellbeing Day offers a similar experience as the aroma. Firstly, there is a plethora of tropical flavours present such as mango, pineapple and passionfruit offering the juicy smoothie feel. The beer then presents the citrus nature with flavours of orange, grapefruit and lemon detectable. Mid-Palate, the malt base offers a degree of sweetness which provides extra body to the IPA. Furthermore, a piney, resinous hoppy flavour is noticeable which gives the beer a noticeable but well worked bitterness. The finish is crisp and dry with a lingering bitterness inviting you for another sip. The mouthfeel of this beer was incredibly smooth and drinkable making this a risky session ale due to the 6.4% ABV. Overall, an extremely drinkable and juicy IPA which in all honesty I absolutely loved. Top notch from Full Circle and those involved in the brewing.
Time for my verdict
I kinda not so subtly hinted at how I feel about this beer and it genuinely might be my favourite Full Circle IPA they have produced. A brilliantly balanced and hop forward NEIPA which really utilises the character of each and every hop to its fullest. I feel the actual commitment by Full Circle to continue their community driven efforts adds an extra layer of speciality to this brew. Overall, I really enjoyed this drink and I would definitely buy this again. To conclude, I rate this an amazing 4.75 out of 5.
Where did I purchase this beer?
I purchased this beer from Nord Bottle Shop in Whitley Bay. Very friendly and welcoming bottle shop with a lot of unique and local beers available.
Leave a Reply