North East Beer Review

To begin this review I give any beer top marks for helping raise funds for a charitable cause such as Two by Two x Hazy Daze Save Our School. Where’s your head at? by First & Last Brewery is particularly great as it supports Men’s Mental Health. This was an absolute must when I saw it on the shelves in BrocksBushes near Corbridge. I have had a quite few brews from First & Last recently and they have all been consistently tasty I have also visited the taproom briefly which I will touch on in a future review. So where is my head at in terms of this brew? To find out I will cover the history of this beer and brewery, the pour, the taste and aroma and finally, my verdict. Cheers!

A North Eastern craft beer staple

First & Last Brewery is a family-run microbrewery based in Bellingham, Northumberland. The brewery was founded in 2016 by Red and Sam Kellie and originally operated in Elsdon. In 2022, the brewery relocated to Bellingham where it operates its brewery and taproom. With roots in the likes Stu Brew and Twice Brewed, the brewery takes pride and consideration with its surroundings. First & Last describes its beers as being “inspired by the wild, untamed landscape and dark skies of Northumberland”, while its brewing philosophy centres around producing balanced beers that encourage you to come back for another sip.

First & Last uses ingredients that have been locally sourced or foraged including the likes of gorse flowers, spruce tips, bullaces and wild raspberries. The brewery views foraging as a way to insert the local landscape in to its beers and influence them. The brewery has also developed into more than simply a place to make beer. Its Bellingham site incorporates a taproom and community space, hosting events ranging from art workshops and literature events to gigs. Sustainability and community are important parts of the brewery’s ethos, with First & Last actively working to reduce its environmental impact and support local causes through some of its beers. In 2026, to celebrate 10 years of brewing, First & Last set out release 10 unique beers throughout 2026. This includes a variety of different styles and collaborations which reflect their ethos and values.

First & Last Where’s your head at? is a rye pale ale which carries an ABV of 4%. This beer is a charity brew and First & Last have decided to raise funds for Heart Wood, a Northumberland-based charity. Heart Wood offers men living with poor mental health an opportunity to be part of a support group and counselling within a nature setting. The beer itself is brewed using rye and oats, and is hopped with Vista and Strata. This is said to give this brew a “Citrus, stone fruit & herbal notes shine”. This is a thing First & Last do brilliantly, they bring an accessible beer style and add either a Northumberland twist or directly help and work with the local organisations around the area.

A glowing pour

Where’s your head at? pours a bright golden to yellow straw colour which glows in the light. The clarity on this brew is excellent. A foamy white forms which lasts throughout the entire drinking experience. Thus, leaving a decent degree of lacing to accompany the brews moderately lively nature. Steady streams of bubbles can be observed climbing up the glass throughout. Overall, an typically inviting English style pale ale pour.

A citrus led pale ale

Aroma

The aroma of this First and Last brew is citrus first with flavours of fresh lemon and grapefruit. This follows a note of peach and perhaps a slight hint of melon. As the beer warmed, the herbal to almost dank nature revealed itself alongside a caramel-like malt nature. Overall, this is a well-balanced aroma which offers a great hop nature whilst also appearing easy-drinking.

Taste

When it comes to taste, Where’s your head at? offers notes of citrus fruits such as orange and grapefruit with slight tropical fruit undertones. This is followed by a subtle peach note. Mid palate, a herbal note gives this quick the earthy feel which complements the rye and oat malts biscuity and caramel edge. The mouthfeel is light and smooth. The finish is clean and long with a lingering citrus to almost dank bitterness. Overall, a very smooth and easy drinking ale which has the citrus and malty notes you expect from an English Pale Ale. This is quite the tasty drinker.

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Time for my verdict.

Overall, this brew gets a 5 out of 5 for its initiative and donating money from this brew to Heart Wood. As stated earlier this is absolutely brilliant idea and it should encouraged more often for those to donate to these charity. I will be totally honest I don’t often donate to many charities other than the odd coin box. But I do try to buy charity beers quite often. In terms of the beer, this was an incredibly easy drinking pale ale which had delicious notes of grapefruit, peach and caramel. I would certainly recommend picking up a bottle of you see it. Overall, I rate the beer itself a 4 out of 5. Cheers

Where did I purchase this beer?

Overall, I was bought this brew by my GF on our day trip to Brocksbushes and Corbridge. Cracking little farm shop which I recommend. Especially the Chilli Jam Sausage Rolls.

Thanks for reading my review, if you enjoyed this review you will love my review of First & Last Embrace.