Beer Today’s rundown of new brews, brewing projects, and collaborations, in a regular digest form…
When Scott Harrison, founder of Estuary Brewing Co, in the US, was in Cornwall for a kitesurfing event, he stopped by for a collaboration at Bluntrock Brewery.
Moon Juice, a 6.2% ABV IPA, had originally been brewed by Bluntrock on their original kit back in 2022 and featured Motueka and Nectaron hops. This time, Azacca CGX has been added to a mix of Motueka and Nectaron Cryo.
“Thanks to the elite hop varieties, you can expect divine aromas of passionfruit, pineapple, and peach flesh, all rounded off with a pillow-soft body,” say the brewers.
Beak have announced the first wave of breweries for their These Hills festival, on 8th and 9th August. As always, beer, wine, and cider will be poured by the producers themselves, giving visitors the chance to chat, ask questions, and sample their pours first hand.
The first brewers to be announced are: Brujos, DEYA, Verdant, Mills, Willibald, Evil Twin, Ham Street, Newbarns, Elm Eleven, Two Fints, Pomona Island, Nightingale Cider, Arpus, and Rivington.
An International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day (IWCBD) took place at Neptune Brewery and the result is a 4.8% ABV coffee pale going on sale soon.
It’s a light-bodied pale that has been enriched with roasted coffee beans from Girls Who Grind. delivering flavours of chocolate, nougat, and praline. The addition of oats add a balance to create a soft fuller mouthfeel.
Bluestone Brewing Co’s IWCBD brew is a 4% ABV hazy pale ale. Named Let Us Know You’re Home XX, it’s supporting Strut Safe, a charity supporting women and others to walk home safely while walking alone.
Women from around Pembrokeshire brewed using the Pink Boots Blend of hops, utilising varieties grown by female growers. On the day, there was also a talk on hops by Ruth Mitchell, of Charles Faram.
Great Newsome are introducing a Love British Hops series of seasonal beers. Each beer is being brewed using a single British hop variety.
“It’s a celebration of what’s grown closer to home, with each beer showcasing the character and personality of one hop at a time,” says the brewer.
They’re starting off with Jester, which is heading out to the on-trade now. The remaining five beers, releasing throughout the year, will showcase the Sovereign, Ernest, Harlequin, Wye Fuggle, and Phoenix varieties.
Tickets have gone on sale for the Alton Beer Festival, on 29th and 30th May, at an early bird discounted price of £8. There are three sessions to choose from: noon-4pm and 7-11pm on the Friday, and 11am-6pm on the Saturday. Pick up tickets here.
Whistling Up The Wind (6.5% ABV) is a bold 6.5% ABV East Coast-style IPA from St Ives Brewery. It’s been hopped with Talus and Ekuanot, and there are oats and wheat in the malt bill. Expect aromas of “fruit and booze”, and flavours of peach and passionfruit.
