Mutiny - Dark Lager

Lagers used to be dark, its a fact. Before malting technology allowed for the production of lighter coloured grains, brewers were restricted in what their offerings could look like as well as taste like. This meant that when Louis Pasteur was investigating the storage properties of beer in Germany, it was amber and brown beers he was testing and not the pale, golden varieties available today.

Mutiny is a Munich style dunkel, an interpretation of the historic lagered beers of Bavaria, brewed with richly flavoured Munich malt giving the beer a hint of chocolate and a slight nutty flavour. Marynka hops from Poland added late in the boil provide contrasting floral and honey aromas. Whilst the brewers' trick of adding black malt to the mash at sparge has helped to boost the depth of colour without affecting the flavour, making it stand out all the more.

When I sampled this beer after a week in conditioning tank, I immediately got a few more glasses and brought them into the office. This is definitely one to share, if possible whilst sporting lederhosen.

Random Happenings

Thought I'd just give a little update on happenings. Firstly our debut limited edition bottled beer, 100% Smokin' Bock, that was brewed last year and subsequently oak aged for 100 days is on sale. Its character has developed into a wonderfully complex plethora of different flavours: First you smell breadcrust, then its treacle and bourbon on the palate backed by an alcoholic warmth that is enveloping. The bottle design is also something I'm quite proud of; It really needed to be special and I think the gold foil encasing the clay swing-top gives it that little extra.

I've also got a batch of beetroot beer fermenting away on our clandestine pilot kit, which is a bit of a step into the unknown to say the least though I'm fairly certain about its colour! It also contains a small percentage of apple juice, its sharper flavour should help balance the earthy notes of the beetroot. The finished article will be named and served by the staff of our brewery tap, Tom Browns, in early April

Its SIBA BeerX 2014 in less than two days time now, been looking forward to this for a while. A great chance to learn, meet up with people I haven't seen for a while and sample a few beers.