News of the Brews: get the lowdown on the best new beers
Californian craft brewery North Coast is bringing its beers to the UK for the first time.
The brewery was established in 1988 and is based at Fort Bragg Medocino County.
The selected range heading for the UK includes Old Rasputin Imperial Stout, the Trappist-style Brother Thelonious ale, Blue Star Wheat Beer and Scrimshaw Pilsner.
They are available from this week from UK distributor Left Coast Distribution.
Nottingham’s Castle Rock Brewery is to release a series of new brews called the Traffic Street Specials.
All of the beers in the range will be brewed in the five barrel fermenting vessel that the brewery installed last year.
The first beer is an IPA made with US hops to, “impart a distinct citrusy aroma with a robust and refreshing bitterness.”
All of the beers will be available in keg as well as cask.
Joule’s Brewery has launched a German-inspired beer for Spring.
Strisselspalt Spring, named after the variety of German hop used in the brew, is a 3.8% ABV golden, hoppy brew, which is said to be “quaffable and full of aroma.”
The company is also working on a number of experimental beers, under the working title “X Beers,” which will be released in very limited quantities.
“Craft beer is all about seeking new and vibrant beer experiences,” said a spokesman.
Innis & Gunn has been working with the head bartender of the Hinds Head pub in Bray to create a new brew.
The 7.4% ABV Smokin’ Gunn is the brewer’s first smoked beer, based on a Bamberg Rauchbier.
It is made with German malts smoked over beech wood and is aged in ex-bourbon casks before receiving a dash of maple syrup for a “toasty sweetness.”
Last month at the Publican's Morning Advertiser's Beer Innovation Summit in St George's Park, Burton upon Trent, the new head of the cross beer campaign Let There Be Beer, David Cunningham, vowed there would be a focus on a wider range of beers as the campaign developed.
