Under the Spotlight: Stealth Brew Co.

The market town of Melksham in Wiltshire is home to the Stealth Brew Co. Formally known as the Kennet & Avon, the brewery has been given a new guise so it stands out within a traditional market. In a county where there are many large and well established traditional breweries, Stealth Brew Co. have stepped out from the shadow with new branding as well as some more experimental and exciting beers. The brewery have produced some more modern, hop forward brews and have added some keg beers to their existing portfolio of cask ales. I have been familiar with Stealth Brew Co. since visiting their micro pub, The Vaults, in Devizes four years ago and have since come to know the team. I caught up with one of the brewery’s partners, Malcolm, to ask him a bit more about the change in identity.  

The process for the new branding started in September 2017 with the final decision made in April 2018. The team felt that the old brand, Kennet & Avon, localised the products too much and felt that they were always having to explain the concept to anyone outside of the South West.  “We felt it’s important to have a brand name that doesn’t need any explanation or point to the area it is made, the brand lets the beer do the talking” says Malcolm. With the local area flooded with traditionally brewed styles, Stealth made it their mission to differentiate themselves. One way I feel that they are achieving this is by their decision not to use finings in their brews and producing naturally hazy beers. This was really important to the team at Stealth as they found a huge difference in flavour between fined and unfined beers on testing. It was then they decided to choose quality of flavour over clarity which has been well received by the regulars. Malcolm explains that they have clearly marked the beers as hazy and that this has not deterred consumers. 

Stealth Brew Co. also champion gluten free ales after a friend of Malcolm’s explained she was unable to drink beer like everyone else due to her gluten intolerance. This is a growing concern in the food and drink industry with 1 in 100 people suffering from coeliac disease so after investigating various brewing techniques Stealth launched their first gluten free stout in 2015 with more styles brewed since then. Many of the beer styles produced by the brewery are favourites of the team as well as by customers. “We are now brewing modern beers that we love to drink ourselves, by doing that it is a lot easier to sell it because you’re passionate about it.” says Malcolm. When I asked which was his favourite beer from the range Malcolm said, “That would have to be Camouflage”, which is Stealth’s stout/pale ale hybrid with a sessionable ABV of 4.7%. Malcolm also goes on to say that on a hot day he loves the citrusy flavours of Covert and I have to agree. This has got to be my favourites from the range however I’m looking forward to trying their new double IPA Surreptitious on keg!

Future plans for the brewery include canning their range of beers to open up a wider market as well as working towards opening another micro pub by the end of the year. Stealth Brew Co. would also like to develop the Tap Room and Backyard so that they can open it more on a weekly basis. Over this summer Stealth are hosting Pop Up Beer Garden Open Weekends to show off the new beer range with more dates lined up for August and September. 

So with Stealth Brew Co. lifting the veil, I think we’ll be seeing a lot more of them in the future!

Northern Powerhouse Brew Series 2018

The Northern Powerhouse Brew Series 2018 saw eight independent breweries from the North of England collaborate to produce eight limited edition beers. Lead by Wylam Brewery, this was in aid of celebrating the Great Exhibition of the North which is an event championing art, design and innovation from the north of the country. The beers were limited to 6,600 cases so I felt quite honoured to be able to get hold of a box. The cans have been designed to represent each brewery using symbols and famous landmarks from the cities/towns they are based in. I couldn’t wait to crack open the beers so here are my thoughts on the box. 

001 Imperial Stout - Wylam X Buxton

This is a big beer and not just because it has a ABV of 10.5%. This smells and tastes like a black forest gateaux with dark fruits and chocolate flavours. The mouthfeel is thinner than I was expecting particularly as this feels like an after dinner beer. It does, however, have some creaminess but not quite like the range of ice cream style beers that Buxton have been releasing recently. I have enjoyed drinking this beer but I am glad I have not stuck strictly to the numerical order of the cans with this one!

002 Strong Brown Ale - Wylam X Cloudwater 

I don’t normally go for this style of beer so this a new one on me. The appearance of this ale is quite dark for this style but I was pleasantly surprised by how sweet it tasted. I could taste quite a lot of malty sweetness with lots of caramel and chocolate flavours. There is also some coffee notes coming through which offsets the sweetness and reminds me of a Tiramisu. I was really impressed with how smooth and well balanced these flavours were. I think this is a good example of a traditional style of beer and is one I would definitely have again.

003 Mixed Fermentation Farmhouse - Wylam X Black Lodge Brewing 

For me this is an attractive beer. Beautifully hazy and looks like a mango fruit juice. The taste is very drinkable with flavours of mango, apricot and peach but it is too easy to forget the 7.5% ABV. However I could happily drink another can as this was gone in just a few mouthfuls! I also really enjoyed the earthy straw-like notes typical of this style as it still reminded me I was drinking a beer. Definitely one of my favourites from the range - just wish I could have another!

004 Pale Wheat Ale - Wylam X Thornbridge 

This is a delicate wheat ale flavoured with floral jasmine notes which are boosted by the clove-like characteristics typical of this style of beer. I got a little bit of the orange peel but this wasn’t the most dominant flavour. It’s more like the gentle ‘twisting’ of the orange peel to release the perfume much like you see in cocktail making. If your a fan of rose or elderflower drinks then I think you would enjoy this beer. 

005 Forest Fruit Kettle Sour - Wylam X Magic Rock 

You can tell by the colour in the pour that this will be a lip puckering sour beer and it does not disappoint. This beer is packed with berry flavours, mostly blackberry and raspberry for me. I love a sour beer so I am trying not to be biased but this has got to be one of my favourites from the box!

006 DDH Pale Ale - Wylam X Hawkshead Brewery

This DDH pale ale does exactly what it says on the can! This beer looks just like a fruit juice and my first taste is bursting with tropical mango flavour. Then you get the punchy hoppiness you’d expect from a double dry hopped beer that finishes with more sweet mango. The flavour and appearance of this beer seem more like the characteristics you’d associate with an IPA than a Pale Ale. I really enjoyed this beer but it is far too easy to drink!

007 India Pale Ale - Wylam X Northern Monk 

Although there is some grapefruit flavour there wasn’t much bitterness to this IPA as I was expecting. In my opinion this tasted a bit soapy and reminded me of some of the earlier IPAs I tried when I first started drinking beer. This beer unfortunately wasn’t one of my favourites. 

008 DIPA - Wylam X Box Social 

This beer has quite a harsh flavour that reminds me of neat spirits and left a burning aftertaste. The appearance made me think this beer would be juicy but I was surprised how much bitterness there was. This beer wasn’t for me but I expect it suits some other peoples palates.

Overall I think this box definitely champions beer from the North and exhibits a great mixture of modern and traditional styles. It is really hard to pick a favourite as all eight beers are so different and there has been some styles that I wouldn’t normally choose for myself. I do think though that this series is a perfect example of how diverse beers can be within the UK and that it is a great way to celebrate The North. I can’t wait to see if there will be a Northern Powerhouse Brew Series 2019 next year!

Under the Spotlight: Kettlesmith Brewing Company

Nestled within the picturesque town of Bradford on Avon in Wiltshire sits the microbrewery Kettlesmith. After spending twelve years in San Francisco discovering American style beers, owners Antony and Caroline moved back to the UK to be nearer to family and to set up their own brewery. It was then that Kettlesmith was born with a mission to produce modern variations on classic styles and encourage more people to pair food with beer. This bank holiday weekend saw Kettlesmith turn two years old and the brewery opened its doors to celebrate!

Kettlesmith’s 6 core beers are influenced by Head Brewer Antony’s time in America and background in England. Some of the range has also been inspired by Belgian styles where he can experiment with different yeast strains. He says, “I love the variety and complexity that Belgian brewing styles offer. It’s interesting to move between English/American styles where hops are often at the forefront of the flavour profile to Belgian where the yeast gets a chance to shine.” Antony first started brewing, like most budding brewers, with his own home brew kit. He experimented with as many ingredients and styles as he could which he still has records of today. Faultline and Fogline were amongst the first to be developed over 10 years ago, named after the San Andreas Fault and the foggy conditions of San Francisco. This has inspired the branding to add the suffix ‘line’ to the end of each name - Coastline, Plotline and Skyline to name a few. Despite the brewing kit being upgraded to expand Kettlesmith, the home brew equipment is still in use to trial new ideas. Over the last few years Antony has been exploring the use of White Labs yeast so hopefully there will be something in the pipeline! 

The brewery has also taken the modern view to not clarify their beers with finings. The team are mostly vegetarian or vegan and so it was important to make the transition away from the use of Isinglass. A bold move as many consumers in the area are used to traditionally fined beers. The team at Kettlesmith have taken the time to talk to their customers about hazy beers and for the last 6 months all bottled, cask and keg beers are 100% vegan friendly.

Kettlesmith has already won many awards for its beer, most recently winning Best Food & Drink Producer at Bradford on Avon’s Business Awards for the second year in a row! A great accolade for a brewery that is passionate about good food and beer pairings. Antony is a Certified Cicerone and feels that beer has great potential to be matched with food in restaurants as well as at home. All the bottled beers come with food pairing suggestions on the labels and the brewery is always looking for local food producers they can partner with for tasting events.

When I arrived at Kettlesmith's 2nd Birthday open day there was already a buzz of people queuing for beers. I noticed how not only were people stopping to have a drink but they were also coming away with cases full of bottles to sample at home. The bar was serving most of the core range as well as a new ‘White Label’ one off brew. Whilst all the range is great tasting and easy drinking, my highlight from the open day has to be Timeline. It had a real herby/floral flavour from the blend of American and English hops making it a standout from all the beers I tried. 

So what's next for Kettlesmith? Well Caroline is waiting for a beer to be named after her though she hasn't yet decided which style will suit her personality best! Antony explains that he wants to continue experimenting with new styles and has come up with Kettlesmith's White Label range of one-off batched beers. He says, “We intend to release a wide variety of beers under this label over the next year including a Kolsch, a Tripel, German wheat beer and some sour beers.” Development of the taproom and brewery shop is also on the cards which will offer a more welcoming environment for customers. I think the team at Kettlesmith already do a good job of making customers feel at ease as they are really engaging and excited about their beers. The brewery is very community focused and holds many open days to interact with customers. It was great to see so many people chatting with the team, with many locals being recognised and offered their regular beers. This wasn't my first visit to the brewery and it won't be the last. I look forward to the next open day! 

The Frome Craft Beer Festival

Nestled within the Mendip area of Somerset is the market town of Frome. Highlighted as one of the ‘Best Places to Live in Britain’ and recently voted the UK’s most stylish town there certainly is a growing buzz around coming here. It is easy to see why, Frome has vibrant markets as well as 50 independent shops and boutiques tucked within the quaint cobbled streets. As it is not too far from me I often visit the Frome Independent Market, held on the first Sunday of every month, to browse through the best of the local produce. There also seems to be a growing beer scene within the town lead by Palmer Street Bottle and Brewed Boy both offering well stocked bottle shops as well as a good range of beers on tap. I have often visited Brewed Boy whilst looking around the market but I didn't know much about Palmer Street Bottle until more recently. This weekend saw these two go head to head in the battle of Palmer Street Bottle vs Brewed Boy at the Frome Craft Beer Festival. 

Held at the Silk Mill Studios, the Frome Craft Beer Festival showcased some great keg beers perfect for a sunny day. Many of the beers were quite sessionable, which was pleasantly surprising, but there were a few exceptions with some bigger beers. As there were only 10 beers on at one time, they were rotated during the sessions, and once it was gone it was gone! Palmer Street Bottle and Brewed Boy each had their own bars ready for battle and were supported by two street food stalls selling Cheese boards and Persian wraps. 

The Friday and Saturday evenings were both sold out but I went along to the Saturday afternoon session as the weather looked promising. It was a little quieter than I was expecting, especially as I had seen on Twitter that it was packed out the night before, but there were still a good number of people there and it did have a more relaxed feel. I had a couple of highlights from the session, the first one being Deya’s Just a Glimmer. Very true to Deya’s style this was a beautifully hazy American pale ale full of citrussy juiciness! Far too drinkable and one that I could have drank all day whilst sat out in the sunshine. My second highlight, and one that surprised me, was Woodland Creatures from Left Handed Giant. This was a big pistachio and honeycomb milk stout which I would normally associate with drinking in the autumn/winter or at the end of an evening. I was surprised with how sweet and milky this beer was that it actually could have been an ice cream! 

I don't know if a winner has been decided from the Brewed Boy vs Palmer Street Bottle battle but in my view I think that they both champion great beers within the town. I shall make a point to drop in on both next time I am at the market and look forward to the next Frome Craft Beer Festival next year! 

Ginspired to make Spirits

I have noticed more that there is a growing trend of breweries producing spirits to compliment their beer range. Many of them are using their existing ingredients and barrels to age the spirit. It seems that brewing and distilling are not too different and it is not just breweries getting in on the action. Jamesons have also famously aged their whiskeys in Irish Stout barrels and more recently in IPA casks supplied by their local craft brewery. Adnams claim to be the first brewery in the UK to produce spirits including vodka, gin and whiskey whilst Sharps decided to team up with Tarquins to create their collaborative spirit - The Hopster Gin. Northern Monk have produced two gins for their portfolio, one white and one black, and Tiny Rebel earlier this year showed us a sneaky glimpse at something that looked like it could also be a gin! Brewdog were the first brewery that I was aware of who were using a mixture of brewing and distilling processes (controversially) for their beers. Sink the Bismarck and Tactical Nuclear Penguin being the results with some eye watering high ABVs which can only be drank in spirit measures.

Wild Beer have also joined in on the growing trend of new gins and have produced a few of their own. I first became aware of this when I tried a Shnoodlepip Gin (inspired by their seasonal beer Shnoodlepip) with Ginger Ale at Indy Man Beer Con last year. Sleeping Lemons has also been given the gin treatment and Spirit of Pogo joins the list after using a distilling process on Pogo. Pogo has been one of my favourite beers since first trying it so I was intrigued when Wild Beer released the Spirit of Pogo. I’m not the biggest spirit drinker but I do enjoy an occasional rum and I was interested to see how these two drinks compared with each other. 

On their own Pogo and Spirit of Pogo are different despite being born from the same ingredients. Pogo is fruity and sweet like a Solero ice cream. I could taste more of the passionfruit and orange flavours which remind me more of a soft drink than a beer. Pogo is so fruity and is a great session beer that its no wonder I’ve filled my fridge with it! Spirit of Pogo is more of a grown up drink. It has the bitters that you would expect from a ‘gin like’ spirit and I could taste more of the guava and pithy orange flavours. I drank my Spirit of Pogo with a FeverTree light tonic but you can also have it on the rocks or as Wild Beer recommend - in an Old Fashioned cocktail. Both Pogo and Spirit of Pogo are great for a sunny day and when drank together, compliment each other perfectly!

East Bristol Brewery Trail

It was May Bank Holiday and the sun was shining down as five of Bristol’s breweries opened their doors as part of the East Bristol Brewery Trail. Starting in May 2016 the East Bristol Brewery Trail is now in it’s 3rd year. This event is run twice a year, on May Day Bank Holiday and August Summer Bank Holiday, and I have always missed out due to other commitments. This was my first time with my boyfriend and it did not disappoint. The weather was also kind with it being a record breaking hot weekend - not like it usually is on a bank holiday! The breweries taking part were Arbor Ales, Dawkins Ales, Left Handed Giant, Good Chemistry and Moor Beer who all lifted the veil to let us us have a look around as well as sample their great beers. 

Travelling by train I planned my route so I could have a merry stumble back to Temple Meads. Thanks to a GWR Bank Holiday delayed train and that we were also thirsty we took a short UBER trip to our first destination: Arbor Ales. When we arrived there was already a queue for the bar and the atmosphere was building outside. Being that it was the first beer of the day I opted for a sessionable pint of Shangri-La. This was so light and refreshing that I could easily have drank this all day but there was more beers to try. My second beer at Arbor was Space Hardware which at 6.6% was a little bit less sessionable but it was so juicy with tropical fruit flavours. 

We then moved onto Dawkins Ales who were only a stones throw away from Arbor. Dawkins had separate keg and cask bars so we headed straight to cask to see what offerings they had. Due to how busy they were on Saturday there was a slightly limited choice of beers with more running out whilst we were there. Outside the brewery there was a pingpong table with lots of seating so there was great buzz from everyone there. We found ourselves some bar stools inside and watched as a dog played ball with other people on the trail. I noticed how many familiar faces kept popping up as we all followed the East Bristol Brewery Trail. We tried out the keg bar before moving onto the next stop on our trail. 

The walk between Dawkins and Left Handed Giant was the longest break between beers but the cycle path we took was very pleasant although this helped us build up a thirst in the sunny May Sunday. The atmosphere at LHG was busy as expected and we couldn’t find a seat outside but we found ourselves sat on a bench in the brewery. Last time I was here they were installing their new brew kit so there was a limited beer menu but today there was so much choice I was unsure what to go for. The beers we had were right up to Left Handed Giant usual standards, with my half of Sonny Boy being a particular highlight. LHG have such big space inside and out that is perfect for this type of event. Here there was music playing as well as more table tennis tables so this felt like a real party!

The next stop on the trail was Good Chemistry and although we were queuing again for the bar but the staff were really nice and on hand to help make suggestions. The inside was moved outside as there were sofas and carpets in the street for people to sit on. We found ourselves perched on the street kerb outside whilst we enjoyed some of the last of the sunshine with our beers. This was my first time at Good Chemistry and I would definitely come back again as it felt so welcoming and relaxed. 

Lastly we ended our trail at Moor Beer and it felt like we were finishing in our local as we often frequent here. Everyone was in the beer garden soaking up the last few hours of sun and we were no different. I couldn’t think of a better way to end my day than with a PMA which is one of my favourite Moor beers. 

Along this trail it was really good to see such a great turn out of people come and support this type of event. There was a diverse mix of people as well as families with children who were all catered for at each venue. The breweries had really great street food pop ups with a range of different food options, BBQ, pizza, curry and Japanese so you were spoilt for choice. I am so grateful to everyone who gave up a sunny bank holiday weekend to serve everyone as without them it would have been impossible to run the event. I can’t wait until the next one as long as I manage to keep the weekend free this time! 

Raising a glass to femALES

Recently we are hearing more and more stories of gender inequality, whether it be in the workplace or even down to our food and drink choices. We've heard of women in the beer industry facing discrimination from male colleagues and customers on a daily basis. Stories of food and drink manufacturers targeting the female market have been met with criticism and anger.  I am also no stranger to some discrimination when I have ordered beer. I recall a time where I was refused a beer as it had a high ABV and was given something in a lower percentage. 

As I read about Brew Dog’s idea to speak out about real ethical issues surrounding women's inequality in the beer industry I was initially excited but this was quickly deflated. To combat sexist marketing and gender pay gap they have rebranded Punk IPA but in doing so have become a symbol of what they were trying to fight against. ‘Pink IPA’, although had good intentions, has been let down by its marketing. 

With International Women's Day just around the corner this is a slight blow to women's equality status in the beer industry. All is not lost though as there are breweries out there who are embracing the importance of equality with beer. One example is Wiper And True, one of my local breweries, who have released their ‘XX’ Gooseberry Wheat beer this week to celebrate women's involvement in brewing, past and present. They used a brewing team solely made up of women, and ingredients that give a nod to what historic ‘alewives’ would have had available to them at that time. The branding for this beer is very true to Wiper And True’s style so there is no sexist marketing. This in my view is a good example of it done right, rather than singling women out we are celebrating how far we have come and I can't wait to show my support by trying this beer!

So yes I am female, but I don't identify as a feminist. I eat Doritos and Yorkie chocolate bars. I enjoy beer and I will continue to drink it.