Fierce flavours at Bonnie & Wild: craft beer crisp pours as Fierce Beer lands in Edinburgh

The residency runs for all of October

Bonnie & Wild, the award-winning food hall at the heart of Edinburgh’s St James Quarter, dazzles with its dynamic mix of independent food stalls and curated drinks experiences. Since opening in 2021, it earns accolades including the Scotland Food and Drink Excellence Awards and a coveted spot as the UK’s No. 1 Food Hall by National Geographic.

Spanning 16,700 square feet with seating for nearly 400 guests, Bonnie & Wild hosts 13 standout vendors including Creel Caught by Gary Maclean, Salt & Chilli by Jimmy Lee, Kochchi, Joelato, El Perro Negro, and Rarity bottle shop. The space buzzes with a diverse crowd — from families to foodies — all drawn by the hall’s unbeatable mix of quality, variety, and value.

Fierce Beer residency this October

This October, Aberdeen-based Fierce Beers takes over the Dookit bar for a four-week residency, following a successful Thistly Cross cider showcase in August. Inspired by the bold craft brews of the West Coast USA, Fierce brings a flavour-forward line-up (curated when we visit by Laura), including their brand new Oktoberfest 2025 Festbier.

We sample six of the beers on tap, starting with Fierce Peach — a dry, juicy brew that captures the lusciousness of ripe fruit without the cloying sweetness. Go Easy, a zesty pale ale, stands out for its crisp citrus notes. Each beer impresses with its balance and clarity of flavour. My favourite is the Pumpkin Spiced Latte.

Food pairings elevate the experience. 'Mr Bite' opts for Noir, a classic stout, alongside Shetland mussels and fries from Creel Caught — a generous, flavour-packed dish for just £15. I pair Fancy Juice, a hazy IPA, with Kochchi’s Chicken Hopper: a savoury Sri Lankan crepe made from fermented rice flour and coconut milk, cradling a spicy curry. The IPA tempers the heat beautifully.

To finish, I can’t resist a bitter orange and almond gelato from Joelato — their salted honeycomb also pairs brilliantly with the stout.

Fierce Beer’s sales manager Richard McLelland shares his excitement:

“We’re really proud of this residency at Bonnie & Wild. It’s a fantastic opportunity to showcase our award-winning range to a wider audience in Edinburgh city centre. Running through most of October gives us the perfect excuse to launch our Oktoberfest 2025 Festbier, alongside popular favourites and low-alcohol options.”

Whether you’re a craft beer aficionado or simply curious, this residency is a must-visit. Bonnie & Wild proves why it’s the crown jewel of Edinburgh’s culinary scene.

Suggested pairings

• Cerveza (Mexican Lager with Lime, 4.0%)

  • BBQ Chicken Pizza – east PIZZAS

  • Smoked Salmon Stack – Stack & Still

• Fierce IPA (Crisp & Juicy IPA, 5.0%)

  • Reuben Sandwich – Soup & Caboodle

  • Buffalo Loaded Fries – El Perro Negro

• Fancy Juice (Hazy IPA, 5.0%)

  • Chicken Hopper – Kochchi

  • Overnight Oats – Bowl Out

• Go Easy (Zesty Pale Ale, 4.7%)

  • Cloudy Lemon Chicken – Leith Woks

  • Italo Sandwich – Soup & Caboodle

• Oktoberfest 2025 Festbier (Festbier Lager, 5.5%)

  • Black Dog Burger – El Perro Negro

  • Chicken Sandwiches – Chooks

• Noir (Classic Stout, 4.3%)

  • Shetland Mussels – Creel Caught

  • Ferdi’s Favourite Gelato – Joelato

• Fierce Peach (Peach Beer Cooler, 4.5%)

  • Salt & Chilli Dishes – Salt & Chilli Oriental

  • Red Velvet Underground Cookie – Chulo’s Stuffed Cookies

• Fierce Iron Brew (Iron Brew Beer Cooler, 4.5%)

• Hot Honey Tenders – Chooks

• Fish & Chips – Creel Caught