News of the brews

Ilkley Brewery bought by Half Full Beer​

Half Full Beer Co has completed the acquisition of Ilkley Brewery for an undisclosed figure.

Formed by ex Ilkley Brewery manager Luke Raven, Half Full Beer has called the acquisition the “first phase” of its expansion plans, with the launch of a new separate brewery on the cards for the future.

Half Full has promised immediate investment in company infrastructure at Ilkley, including the creation of more jobs. The company said orders have already been placed for brewing kit to increase production.

Ilkley Brewery was founded in 2009 by a group of local beer enthusiasts, and started life producing cask ales for the local community.  Production moved to a larger site in 2011 and over the following four years, production capacity rose to over 45,000 pints per week. The brewery has been operating at full capacity for some time, unable to accept extra business; the new investment will allow production to double within two years.

Chance to win tip to Yakima Valley with Meantime​

Meantime Brewing Company has announced a promotion that will give consumers the chance to win a trip to the Yakima Valley in Washington State, the prime hop-growing region in the world.

Three winners will accompany Meantime founder Alastair Hook (right) on his annual hop sourcing trip to the USA via some of the Seattle’s best craft beer bars and breweries.

Entrants will also have a chance to win a number of smaller prizes, including Meantime beers, Brewery Tours and dinner at the recently developed restaurant and bar, The Tasting Rooms at the brewery in Greenwich.

300,000 bottles of London Lager and London Pale Ale bottles have has their labels re-designed to incorporate details of how to enter the competition and drive consumers to the website.

The competition runs throughout the month of August, winners will be announced on September 7. For more information go to http://www.meantimebrewing.com/yakety-yak

Black Sheep reaches out to younger drinkers​

Black Sheep Brewery has outlined a new path for the brewery, reaching out to younger, more experimental drinkers by reinventing its image.

The aptly named Pathmaker pale ale is a 5% ABV beer brewed using Chinook hops giving a “fresh aroma, juicy hop and malty mouth feel with a crisp moreish finish”.

Pathmaker has been inspired by Black Sheep founder Paul Theakston, who established the brewery in 1992 with a mission to craft “real beer in a time-honoured fashion” rather than a “bland mass produced” offering.

For order enquiries visit www.blacksheepbrewery.com/contact

Moorhouse Bohemia​

Moorhouse’s is releasing a new seasonal brew for August, called Bohemia.

A light 4.8%ABV golden cask ale based on the Bohemian Czech style lagers, Bohemia has ‘a well rounded, refreshingly crisp, clean taste with aromas of herbs, spice and citrus’.

The brew will make its debut at the Great British Beer Festival and will be available throughout August from Moorhouse’s, major distributers and pub companies.

Jakehead is Britain's hottest beer​

Jakehead from Wylam Brewery in Newcastle has been named “Britain’s Hottest Beer”.

Jakehead, a 6.3% ABV IPA, is a rarity south of Tyne and Wear. Proper Job from St Austell and Gamma Ray from Beavertown came in second and third place respectively.

Co-founder of Britain’s Hottest Beer, James Law, said “I hadn’t heard of Jakehead three months ago, but now it’s at the top of the list of our favourite beers. There’s so much strength and depth in British beer, we’re really pleased that a relative unknown has risen to the top.”

Fuller's Quintessential​

Fuller, Smith & Turner P.L.C. has announced  its newest seasonal brew, Quintessential British Pale Ale.

Quintessential is a light 3.8% session ale, "typical of a British summer with a hoppy overtone". English Target hops impart bitterness to the ale, and three other English hops (Northdown, Challenger and Goldings) bring out more spicy pine aromas. Fuller’s has also used the new Jester hop variety which introduces new-world flavours to the brew.

Quintessential will be available from 27 July until 26 September 2015 from Fuller’s.

From the Notebook Glow-worm​

From the Notebook has teamed up with insect charity Buglife to produce an environmentally friendly beer.

Glow-worm is vegan and 100% organic 4% ABV light brewed by the Stroud Brewery in Gloucestershire with Soil Association accreditation.

The "glow" is added by the addition of a dash of chilli-pepper for a unique non-spicy afterglow to create a truly refreshing beer and each bottle of will raise money for the Buglife.

Glow-worm can be ordered from www.fromthenotebook.co.uk

Revolutions Severina wins SIBA award​

Revolutions Brewing's Severina Vienna-style lager was named overall keg champion in the SIBA North Region Keg Beer Competition 2015.

The competition was held at the Canalhouse, Nottingham  and featured over 100 beers from SIBA member breweries throughout the north of England & Scotland in eight categories and judged by experts in a blind tasting session.

Severina is a classic 5.0% ABV Viennese brown lager, launched by the brewery earlier in 2015 as part of a new range of kegged lager-style beers.  The range currently also includes 'Sanctuary', a hoppy pale lager, and a soon-to-be-launched black lager.

For order enquiries visit www.revolutionsbrewing.co.uk​

Arkell's Perfect Promise​

Arkell’s has launched its latest craft beer, Perfect Promise.

Perfect Promise is a 3.6% ABV brew made from Golden Promise malted barley, making a light, clean and well rounded beer.

For order enquiries www.arkells.com​