Exploring the World of Craft Beer: Styles and Flavours

Craft beer has undergone a renaissance in recent years, captivating the taste buds of enthusiasts worldwide. 

From the hoppy bitterness of an IPA to the smooth richness of a stout, the world of craft beer offers an extensive array of styles and flavours to explore. Let's embark on a journey through this diverse and fascinating landscape.

The Rise of Craft Beer

Craft beer, unlike mass-produced commercial brews, is typically produced by small, independent breweries. These breweries prioritise quality, innovation, and flavour over mass production. This dedication has led to an explosion of creativity within the craft beer industry, with brewers experimenting with unique ingredients, brewing techniques, and flavour profiles.

Understanding Beer Styles

One of the most intriguing aspects of craft beer is its diversity of styles. Each style offers its own distinctive characteristics, from colour and aroma to taste and mouthfeel. Here are some popular craft beer styles you might encounter:

India Pale Ale (IPA): Renowned for its hop-forward bitterness, IPAs often feature prominent citrus, pine, and floral notes. Variations include American IPA, English IPA, Double IPA (DIPA), and New England IPA (NEIPA).

Stout: Dark, robust, and full-bodied, stouts are characterized by their rich flavours of roasted malt, coffee, chocolate, and sometimes hints of caramel or toffee. Examples include Irish Dry Stout, Imperial Stout, and Milk Stout.

Pale Ale: Pale ales strike a balance between malt sweetness and hop bitterness, with a focus on showcasing the flavours of the hops. They come in various iterations such as American Pale Ale, English Bitter, and Belgian Pale Ale.

Sour Ale: Known for their tartness and acidity, sour ales encompass a broad spectrum of styles, including Berliner Weisse, Gose, Lambic, and Flanders Red Ale. They often feature fruity, funky, or complex flavours derived from wild yeast or bacteria.

Wheat Beer: Brewed with a significant proportion of wheat in addition to barley, wheat beers are typically light-bodied and refreshing, with flavours ranging from citrus and spice to banana and clove. Examples include Hefeweizen, Witbier, and Berliner Weisse.

Exploring Flavours

Craft brewers are constantly pushing the boundaries of flavour, incorporating a diverse range of ingredients to create unique and memorable brews. Whether it's adding fruits, spices, herbs, or even coffee and chocolate, there's no shortage of experimentation in the world of craft beer.

Some breweries specialise in barrel-aged beers, which are aged in wooden barrels previously used for aging spirits such as whiskey, rum, or wine. This process imparts complex flavours and aromas, often with notes of oak, vanilla, and the spirit itself.

Conclusion

The world of craft beer is a vibrant tapestry of styles, flavours, and experiences waiting to be explored. Whether you're a seasoned beer aficionado or just beginning your journey, there's something for everyone to enjoy. So, raise a glass to the creativity and passion of craft brewers everywhere, and embark on a delicious adventure through the world of craft beer. Cheers!

Wetherspoon Real Ale Festival 11 to 22 October

Between Wednesday 11th October to Sunday 22nd October the Wetherspoon pub company is running another of its highly successful and very popular real ale festivals at all of its pubs up and down the country.

Real ale fans will be able to sample beers from award-winning brewers, taste brews from five international breweries, take a look at 25 ales that are totally new to Wetherspoon pubs and enjoy up to 30 different ales and beers.

Beers you could try will include Conwy Kashmir IPA, Harviestoun Broken Dial, Joe’s Garage

Bohemian Pale Ale, all the way from the Czech Republic, From the USA there's New Realm Hoptropolis IPA, Robinsons Fear Of The Dark, Steel & Oak Easy Stout from Canada, Yazoo Dos Perros from Tennessee, Zululand Zulu Blonde from South Africa.

Also there's Salopian The Murmurings of a Lost Leviathan, Titanic Cherry Porter, Thornbridge Hubble, Wychwood King Goblin, Hogs Back Ratfink & Ripsnorter, Evan Evans Challenger, Maxim Slovenian Pale Ale, Inveralmond Ossian Oatmeal Stout, Castle Rock Phoenix Tears and other beers besides, plus the usual array of other ales. Plus several ciders (including craft ciders, usually) and food is available all day.

Prices may vary between pubs, also check if the Festival Third of a Pint scheme is still operating.

For full details check out the link here https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/news/2023/09/autumn-real-ale-festival

We are fortunate that we have four Wetherspoon pubs all reasonably local to us and we'll plan our visits accordingly. 

Timothy Taylor's Brewery Receives Two Top Awards for Can Design

Timothy Taylor's Hopical Storm, a 4% triple-hopped session pale ale, was recently launched in cans to provide an additional packaging format that suited the brand and widened the appeal and availability to a younger, legal drinking-age audience.

Announcing the awards, Timothy Taylor's CEO Tim Dewey said “Having successfully launched Hopical Storm to pubs and restaurants in kegs, we realised cans were a logical extension to our range. 

"Not only would they provide an option for venues without cellar space or rate of sale required for serving draught beers, but would also enable customers to enjoy this refreshing triple-hopped pale ale away from bars, wherever they are and whatever the occasion.”

The Hopical Storm 440ml aluminium cans feature distinctive orange branding, characterising the burst of fruit aroma and flavours of the beer, with a cut-out silver lightning flash symbolising Hopical Storm's ability to strike thirst. 

The multi award-winning design was developed by Springetts Brand Design in conjunction with the Timothy Taylor's in-house marketing team of Jane Jenkins and Scott Cameron and the can labels printed by Reflex Label Plus, who used their expertise to include tactile varnishing, lending to an enhanced ergonomic feel, too.

“Timothy Taylor's is an independent business fully committed to brewing quality beers” added Dewey. 

“And the mandarin, mango, and passion fruit of Hopical Storm unleashes a tropical cyclone of refreshment that strikes your thirst. It's a characterful twist on the tradition associated with Timothy Taylor's and the can design needed to reflect this new approach for a brewery that was established back in 1858, 165 years ago.

"The attention to detail combines the vibrant, tropical colour and the lightning strike, with the depiction of the famous Timothy Taylor's barley sheaf also updated to show it being buffeted by a strong wind to create the perfect Hopical Storm.

“At 4% ABV Hopical Storm is more accessible than some higher ABV beers in the IPA category and has gained widespread distribution and positive tasting reviews. 

"For the can to now be recognised by the International Beer Challenge and receiving the accolade of World's Best Can Design at the World Beer Awards is the crowning glory and ultimate accolade for everybody who has worked so hard on development of the beer and how it is presented.”

Hopical Storm is brewed using five UK-grown hops in three stages of hopping, Cascade and Whitbread Goldings in the copper, Cascade and Chinook at the hop back stage, then dry-hopped with Jester and Ernest. 

Combined with Timothy Taylor's natural Knowle Spring water, fine barley malts and the unique Taylor's Taste yeast to create the tropical storm of flavour and aroma. Hopical Storm is notable for its pale golden appearance and clarity and is vegan-friendly, wearing the distinctive Vegan Trademark and certified by The Vegan Society.

Timothy Taylor's Hopical Storm was also recognised with a silver medal in the taste category at the International Beer Challenge.

The can has secured listings in selected Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Booths, and Waitrose stores and has had a full calendar of marketing activity over the summer including print and digital advertising. It also had presence at events including BrewLDN, the Yorkshire Dales Food & Drink Festival, Bloodstock Open Air, and as one of the brands poured by Timothy Taylor's as the official beer partner of CarFest, where the award-winning cans were also enjoyed across all the festival's bars.

https://www.timothytaylor.co.uk

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Co-op expands Goose Island partnership with launch of two frozen pizzas

The Co-op has announced it's set to expand its popular Goose Island frozen food range with the launch of two new exciting pizza flavours, taking the total number of products in the collaboration to a magnificent seven.

New additions to the bar snacks range include a Double Pepperoni Pizza (515g) and BBQ Cheese Feast Pizza (510g), which have both been developed with the bold American flavours from Goose Island’s IPA to enhance the takeaway style home dining experience with authentic Italian cooking methods.

A testimony to Co-op’s commitment to high-quality produce, the pizzas are actually made in the heart of Italy, hand-stretched with 24hr leavened dough and baked in a traditional wood-fired oven, thus ensuring a light and airy crust. 

Comprising of a deep pan pizza base topped with Goose Island IPA BBQ sauce, the Double Pepperoni Pizza is nicely finished off with mozzarella and pepperoni pieces whilst the Cheese Feast Pizza combines mozzarella, Emmental, provolone and Italian hard cheese.

Targeting foodie customers who are seeking out quick and easy dinner solutions, the new pizzas are an ideal match for the brewery’s beers which includes Goose Island IPA Single Can (330m) and Goose Island IPA Cans (4 x 330ml). The pizzas also join the existing line-up of Goose Island snacking SKUs which launched back in 2021 and are infused with the brewery’s iconic award winning IPA. The five “finger-food favourites” includes: onion rings, halloumi fries, mac ‘n’ cheese bites, chilli cheese bites and loaded fries.

Rebecca Oliver Mooney, who is the Head of Commercial at Co-op, said: “We’ve seen a phenomenal response to our bar snacks collaboration with Goose Island and the new pizzas are the perfect way to add innovation to the popular range as they continue the food and beer pairing.

“We are focused on providing our members and customers with convenient solutions, so we’re confident our members and customers will buy into the range even more so with these new additions which provide shoppers with a complete ‘fakeaway’ range to conveniently cook up at home."

Olivia Moore, Goose Island Brand Manager said: “We’re incredibly excited to be bringing this new addition, which gives consumers the opportunity to perfectly match their pizza and beer. The Goose Island IPA BBQ sauce is infused with our award winning IPA, the flavours from which bring something really special to the range.”

The pizzas are available now in the frozen food section across 816 Co-op stores and online at shop.coop.uk, priced at £3.75 each.

Chur Bro New Zealand IPA

Another of my beer purchases from Home Bargains was a can of Chur Bro New Zealand IPA.

It's from the Off Axis Brew Company and has an alcohol vol of 6.2%.

It's brewed and canned under contract in the UK exclusively for TJM Ltd, the owners of Home Bargains.

It's a delightfully hoppy IPA, which is brewed using the following New Zealand hops: Pacific Jade, Motueka, Raku and Wakatu.

Unlike some heavily hopped IPAs this has a strong level of hoppiness, but it's not overbearing as can be the case with some IPAs, especially those produced by some brewers on the West Coast of the USA.

New Zealand has, over the past decade or so, began to forge a pathway to become a centre of IP excellence, but with a style all of its own.

There's an excellent mouthfeel, an enticing bitterness and a good degree of hop flavours that mean this beer is a great IPA right to the last drop.

I think it's about £1.49 for a 440ml can.

https://untappd.com/b/tiny-rebel-brewing-co-chur-bro/2821834

Give the Gift of Artisan Beer This Father's Day With Empress Ale

This Father's Day, British artisan beer brand Empress Ale is offering the perfect gift for dads everywhere. 

Empress Ales are premium craft British beers made using the finest natural ingredients, sourced as locally as possible, wherever this is possible. 

The range, which includes a Pale Ale, an IPA, and a Pilsner-style lager that's gluten-free, organic and vegan, are smooth, light and easy to drink and are designed to be enjoyed whatever the occasion.

They're stocked in venues and restaurants all over the UK, including City Social by Jason Atherton, the Goodman Group, and Adams in Birmingham, plus in branches of Waitrose.

But the perfect way to get a gift direct to a dad this Father's Day is to order from the Empress website, treating the beer fan in your life to a selection of the Empress beers or perhaps a few bottles of their favourite?

To celebrate the occasion, Empress is giving an extra 10% discount for online orders for Father's Day, along with free shipping. 

Entrepreneur Surj Virk set up Empress in 2016, growing it into a premium brand stocked in some of the top hospitality venues across the UK.

A dad himself, he said the range makes the perfect gift, on Father's Day or all-year round, - because of the personal touch that's gone into creating it. 

“Empress is a hugely personal beer brand," he said. “The whole range has been created with love - a British-made beer using old English recipes for inspiration, but also with a nod to my Indian heritage and some very personal tributes to members of my family.

“Our Pale Ale, IPA, and Pilsner-style Lager are all proving hugely popular - both when served with food in restaurants across the country, and when bought direct from us to either go with food at home, or to drink with family and friends.

“That means they make great gift options for any occasion, and for Father's Day we're offering a special discount code to treat the dad in your life. Just add FATHER2023 when at the online checkout and you'll get an extra 10% off and free shipping when you spend over £45.”

For more information and to order online, visit www.empressale.com.