Now then, back to beer and our upcoming specials through September and October. We’re showcasing the fantastic qualities of British hops this month with Farrier our 5.5% ESB and Secret Wife at 4.9%. Farrier is a much more robust version of our best-selling ale Red Feather with superb bitterness complemented by warming caramel tones. Secret Wife is brewed using UK Cascade for a slightly softer fruit hit than the American counterpart. Fruit is best- backed up by strong bitterness and a dry finish and that’s what this cheeky little number does with great panache. Taking you into October we’ll see Kaiser straddling the end of September and the beginning of October. If you haven’t tried it before it’s a brewery favourite. At 4.1% it’s not too naughty but drinks as refreshing, dry and biscuit-y with lovely cereal malt flavour and a hint of lemon. German hops are used for authenticity plus lager malt is included in the mash. Going through to October we’ll see beers new and old: Firehouse Red 4.5% brings in the new with rye added to the mash for spice and loads of delicious American hops to keep it punchy and fresh. Then we journey to the other side of the world with Cubitt’s Voyage 3.5% and a resinous, pale New Zealand hop explosion! This is no shrinking violet, what it may lack in alcohol it makes up for in hop character.
There have been a few new arrivals at the brewery recently notably four ex red wine casks which we’ve begun experimenting with- watch this space for more updates! In other news we have finally bottled Harley, our 4.3% golden citrus ‘quaffing ale’. It’s sold exceptionally well this year hence the move to bottling. Also new to the bottled range is Cocoa Noel. Just in time for Christmas (!) our very tasty Chocolate Stout brewed at 5.5% is the only one in the UK that uses Duffy’s Cocoa Nibs. Aside from a devilishly-dark mash the cocoa nibs impart fantastic bitterness and depth of flavour to this very indulgent stout.