GOOD FOOD GUY
A CHANGE IS BREWING
Taken from this month’s Cotswold Life magazine
HOW LOCAL, CRAFT BREWERS ARE USING REAL ALE TO INSPIRE CHANGE
There’s something brewing in the world of real ale – and it’s not just the great beer we have access to here in the Cotswolds. It’s the people behind the beers who are using their passion and craft to really expand the diversity of the industry.
There was a time when you could stereotype the traditional beer drinker (are we allowed to stereotype anymore? Probably not, I’ll leave it to your imagination then!). But today, the rise in new breweries and microbreweries means that any stereotypes have been blown out of the water. Many of today’s brewers are young, female, forward-thinking, and they all have one thing in common – passion for their craft and a desire to make a difference.
Regular readers of this column will know, I’m very much into golden ales and I enjoy them on the colder side. Yes, I know some will say that’s sacrilegious, but I really do prefer my beer cold. Straight from the fridge. Sub 6 degrees. There was a time when I wouldn’t have dared admit this out loud, but the point is that there’s now a beer for every taste, whatever your taste happens to be. For this new generation of brewers has created a labyrinth of ales to explore, positively encouraging you to experiment with new styles and flavours at every twist and turn. In what can only be described as the equivalent of an adult pick n mix, there are now shelves all over the Cotswolds stacked full of numerous quirky and fascinating ales – half the fun is in finding out which ones suit you best, as long as you can stand the hangover that is!
By pushing the boundaries with new and innovative brewing techniques, our local brewers have given us choice. But they are not only producing award-winning ales, they are also encouraging social and environmental change through their industry. It’s a really exciting time for our local breweries – here are four to watch:
DEYA
Based in Cheltenham, this craft brewery is an incredible leading light in the craft beer world. Run by Theo Freyne, the brewery is doing amazing things with new ingredients, such as exotic hops from overseas that give the beers hints of grapefruit, pineapple and papaya. They are also playing with fermentation methods and experimenting with wild yeasts for a more natural brew.
CLAVELL & HIND
Named after renowned Gloucestershire Highwaymen, this newcomer to the scene is based in Birdlip and has already created a buzz around pubs in the area. Run by James Dobson and Timothy Heighton-Jackson, the microbrewery is all about bringing the community together, as witnessed by collaborations with pop-up kitchens and the weekly gatherings in the popular taproom!
STROUD ORGANIC BREWERY
Owner Greg Pilley’s commitment to organic ingredients and sustainability has always been at the core of this award-winning brewery. Today, the brewery is innovating further thanks to a collaboration with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and the River Cottage team to create beers using ingredients that are sourced sustainably, such as nettles, hemp seeds and locally-grown hops.
GLOUCESTER BREWERY
When Jared Brown founded Gloucester Brewery in 2011 in the historic Gloucester Docks, he had a vision for sustainability from the outset. A decade on, and the brewery has pledged to become a carbon neutral company by the end of 2022. This means the brewery’s award-winning beers now all come in cans rather than bottles, reducing the company’s carbon footprint dramatically.
For more inspirational craft breweries in the area, take a look at The Craft Drink Co, which supports independent drinks producers and stockists in southern England. For details, visit craftdrinks.co.uk