by Judy Esguerra | Mar 24, 2015 | Lock Box: March 2015
The Camden Town Brewery grew out of a desire to have outstanding locally sourced beers in the London area, including lager, wheat beer and pale ales that previously had to be imported. Owner and brewer Jasper Cuppaidge began experimenting and brewing cask beer in the cellar at his Horseshoe Pub in Hampstead, North London, where he regularly served his beer creations to pub clientele. The brewery then moved to it’s current location, and since 2010 Camden Town Brewery has been operating as a microbrewery, making and selling a variety of beers in the London market. Today they operate right under the railway at Kentish Town, in seven old Victorian railway arches that have been converted into a state of the art brewery and pub. Camden brews a variety of 7 classic beers year round plus several limited edition beers and the Versus Series, a collaboration between Camden and other breweries. These brews are available in bottles, cans and kegs throughout England, Sweden, Australia and Japan. What is really intriguing about the Camden Barrel Aged IHL, besides the light and crisp flavor, beautiful rich amber color and unusual process, is the story of dedication and drive that made the beer. It took Camden a year of trial brews to create IHL, and the brewer nearly died in an explosion during the process! Thankfully he escaped with only injuries and now the world knows a superior IHL. Camden Barrel Aged IHL is very much like an India Pale ale but is actually a lager that is aged for six months in six Bourbon barrels and one Tequila barrel, after the aging...
by colinmcgray | Mar 20, 2015 | Lock Box: March 2015
Out of Christchurch, New Zealand’s award-winning Three Boys Brewery, the Three Boys Porter is an English-style porter that has taken the country (as well as various other parts of the world) by storm. With balanced and toasted malts (including a predominate chocolate malt), the beer boasts of a complex flavor. In addition to the malt addition, the unique hop variety is also to thank for the porter’s distinctive characteristics. Using classic English Fuggle hops (which allow the beer to maintain its traditional porter taste) as well as various New Zealand hops (which give it both spiciness and originality), the brew is a creative twist on the standard porter. Coming in at 5.2% ABV, the Three Brothers’ beer is in the mid-range of the ABV range for an average English porter. If anyone thinks it lacks in strength, however, that’s more than made up for in flavor and character. The porter pours a deep—nearly black—color and has a consistently creamy brown head that provides lots of lacing. The porter has a surprisingly thin consistency that might threaten to compromise the integrity of the brew if it weren’t for its unique and intriguing flavor. Like most porters, the brew has strong notes of coffee and chocolate (both aromatically and in flavor); however, Three Brothers Porter also offers a spicy, fruity twist on the original and an added kick, thanks to its extra hoppy essence. Its medium body and smooth, creamy texture are enhanced by additional notes of flavor: raspberry, blueberry, and a subtle roasted smokiness. With an incredibly sweet profile, the brew pairs well with more savory foods and various grilled meats, as it...
by colinmcgray | Mar 20, 2015 | Lock Box: March 2015
In a country with an already booming craft beer industry, a steadily growing number of breweries continue to push the boundaries, always willing to take a few chances. “Innovation and experimentation is the best way to run a brewery,” is the adage of Bristol Beer Factory, for example, a small brigade of rebellious-spirited brewers from – where else – South Bristol. And this mentality manifests in their beer- the beloved standards, only slightly off-kilter. The brewery seems to relish in paying homage to the classics, with many of its offerings harking back to the “good old days,” while striving to wrap them all with a fresh, modern face. Debuting in 2004, Bristol Beer Factory blossomed from a humble operation into a veritable, well, factory, of beer. Equal parts playful and traditional, the brewers relish in being part of the craft beer revolution while paying respects to the Ghosts of Beer Past. And it’s not difficult to see where their spirit comes from – they’re brewing in an original 1904 brew house, the Ashton Gate brewery, a storied brewery that closed up shop in the 30’s. “The company has a firm belief that all the great ideas are already within the 4 walls of the brewery,” they claim, “it’s just a matter of extracting them.” And their fervor absolutely infuses their beer with plenty of character. “We’re not afraid to try anything.” It is perhaps this marrying of the old and the new that fuels the likes of their Sweet Stout (called, simply, Milk Stout), a popular offering that has nabbed them a few awards to boot (namely the National Championship...
by colinmcgray | Mar 19, 2015 | Lock Box: March 2015
| 4.1% ABV | Session IPA | West Yorkshire, England | Sometimes, less is more. This is especially true with beer. Big brews with burly ABVs often don’t lend themselves particularly well to beach days or all-nighters around a campfire, where the “just one more” mentality tends to reign supreme. Spring Good Times Enter the “session” IPA, a beer style that has come very much into fashion over the past few years, and it’s easy to appreciate why: all of the vibrant personality and hoppy goodness of their big brothers, and yet manage to be every bit as smashable as the mass-brewed swill. These flavorful lil’ guys tend to appear en masse as the summer months approach, meaning their heyday is upon us! It’s difficult to find a craft brewer that doesn’t offer at least one more casual beer for the season, meaning that summertime is the perfect time to down an entire six pack without risk of (too) much judgment. The Summer Wine Ethos One such offering comes from Summer Wine, a relatively new (they went commercial in 2008) brewery from Yorkshire. Focusing on beers that are “unapologetically flavour forward in nature,” Summer Wine seeks to challenge the beer status quo that seems to rule the area; the Yorkshire beer scene has become, in their opinion, dormant and unsurprising. Instead of sticking strictly to this sleepy way of life, Summer Wine is determined to “tear up the rule book and…[redefine] how Yorkshire beer is perceived.” Already growing at an impressive rate, the brewery promises that they’ve only just begun, and are bent on offering a pantheon of surprising beers...
by Bruce Gray | Mar 19, 2015 | Lock Box: March 2015
Welcome to this month’s Lock Box. I hope you’re extremely excited by the beers you’ve just received and can’t wait to try them. We really enjoy you folks sharing with us on social media your opening of the box and the beers, so get in touch! We’d love to see a photo on Twitter or Facebook, or just leave a comment at the bottom of this post. What’s in the Box? This month we’re showcasing some goliaths of the UK beer scene. First up we have the super-drinkable pale Pacer from Summer Wine. Summer Wine are a brewery based in Holmfirth ran by a couple of young lads who have been building a very solid reputations as one of the most experimental breweries on these shores. The list of beers they produce is fairly epic, and Pacer is among the best of them. Find the full write-up here: Pacer from Summer Wine. From a similar area up in the Peaks we have AxeEdge from Buxton. Named after a rock formation in the area, this beer is recognised as one of the best IPA’s you will find in the world. Sound hyperbolic? Try it and see for yourself. Grapefruit, Peaches, Citrus, a clean and dry finish with a balanced hop bitterness to it. Delicious. We recognise that last month’s box was a little hop heavy, and that’s my fault. I get a little excited about Pales and IPAs… So this month I’ve worked hard to put out a more balanced box with a mix of styles and ABVs that will keep you interested from beer 1 to beer 8. We...
by Judy Esguerra | Mar 15, 2015 | Lock Box: March 2015
6.5% ABV | Double IPA | 330ml | Buxton Brewery | Buxton, Derbyshire Under the motto of “Make Better Beer”, Buxton Brewery owner Geoff Quinn has worked hard to create a diverse slate of beers during his short brewing career. Born from his passion for real ale, Quinn’s brewing career began in his garage in 2009. Although his first foray into brewing was less than spectacular, he continued experimenting and soon learned how to craft quality beers. Buxton Brewery was officially founded later that same year. Quinn found a suitable location in Buxton, took out a £50,000 loan, and started brewing on a larger scale. The company now employs several additional staff, including two full time brewers and brews over 20 regular and seasonal beers. The town of Buxton is surrounded by the Peak District, the UK’s first national park. Known for its ‘special water’, Buxton is a spa town situated in Derbyshire in the English Midlands. Known as Aquae Arnemetiae (‘The Waters of the Goddess of the Spring’ or ‘The Spa of the Goddess’) by the Romans, the area around Buxton has been valued for its special waters for several millennia. The Buxton Brewery takes advantage of these waters to craft all of their fine beers. Buxton Axe Edge (6.5%) IPA (India Pale Ale) is the brewery’s best selling beer. IPAs were originally brewed as pale ales which were meant to withstand the long sea voyage from England to India. Over the years, the IPA has evolved into its own style of beer. IPAs are generally very hoppy and strongly flavored beers which often have fruity and floral overtones....
