Monday, 20 January 2014

What A Flanker - Golden Ale

Rugby is the best game in the world. It's a big statement and I know it's not without its flaws, scrums are getting a lot of negative attention at the moment, but seriously think about it. At grass roots level a position for every body type, the lanky or short kid is not left out and the larger child shall we put it, is hailed as a hero! Professionally men in excess of 100kg able to do 100m in under 15secs running at each other with little to no protection, officiated by a man half their size, who never seems to know the rules with nothing but a whistle to stamp his authority. How can this be interpreted as anything other than truly great?

The beer I've designed to accompany this veritable festival of mud, blood, sweat and camaraderie is a 3.8% pale golden session ale. Plenty of Munich malt gives a smooth, honey character while a classic East Kent and Styrian hop combo conspire to provide beautiful aromas. Ideal for what can often be a good few hours of angst, dismay and hopefully jubilation.

Come on England!

Wednesday, 1 January 2014

Frosted Jack - Pale Ale

2014 has started with a bang, a bout of rain, and a new beer. Well it's actually been sold to Mitchell & Butlers as part of their winter program for well over a month and was originally created for a one off contract brew with another company last Christmas but it is the DBC limited edition January offering.

Frosted Jack is a 4.3% golden ale that I developed around the American hop variety Amarillo. Discovered by accident hiding in a crop of Liberty and originally termed Super-Cascade, this hop is rammed full of the oil myrcene which is responsible for the archetypal brash and citrussy American hop flavour.

Frosted Jack has woken up a few taste buds and we’ve been selling on average well over 100 casks of this stuff every week since mid November. In fact there are now increasing demands for more distinctive, wild and down right flavoursome beers to enter the fray of the DBC limited edition monthly specials. Fear not ale fans, I’ve got plenty up my sleeves and all will soon be revealed in this years glossy new brochure.

So if you’re not one of the ones joining the rather lame sober-January brigade have a Hoppy New Year.