New River Brewery Launches Giant Pumpkin Ale For 50th Brew
A Hertfordshire grower and two brewers have converted a 480 lb pumpkin into ~3,000 pints of delicious pumpkin beer for Halloween.
And a Halloween promotion of the beer at a local pub will raise money for Prostate Cancer UK.
New River Brewery LTD, a local craft brewery based in Hoddesdon, have teamed up with Douglas Smith of Sweet Pea Salads, based at Foxholes Farm, Hertford, to produce a seasonal pumpkin beer.
The 480 lb giant pumpkin, which weighs more than two baby elephants, was nicknamed “Lily” and was converted by Hertfordshire based local craft brewers, Jeremy Alter and John Bourdeaux into an exciting new autumnal special, Pumped Up! in time for Halloween.
“What better way to mark our 50th brew than to create a really special beer using a locally grown and quite remarkable ingredient!” said Jeremy Alter.
Commenting on the fact that New River Brewery’s used grain is recycled as cattle feed at Foxholes Farm, John said “Putting a pumpkin grown on that land into our beer, seems to complete the Life circle perfectly” adding, “It feels like Cinderella in reverse – turning a pumpkin into ale!”
After the ceremonial cutting of the pumpkin, Lily was taken to the brewery and made into a very special beer named Pumped Up! Giant Pumpkin Ale, 4.2% abv. It is now available in casks for Halloween and throughout Autumn.
To make this special beer, the ‘Atlantic Giant’ pumpkin was first roasted and caramelised in an oven, before being added to the brew together with a special mix of spices to complement the flavour of the pumpkin.
The pumpkin was one of two giant pumpkins grown by Douglas. An even larger one – ‘Stella”– which had to be lifted using the farm’s JCB – was entered into a UK wide Biggest Pumpkin competition, coming 6th place out of 25 with a final weight of 624.1 lb – more than 4 baby elephants. Stella is now on display at Foxholes Farm.
“The giant pumpkins have been a huge “wow factor” for kids at the farm – and it makes a change from the more usual salad leaves that I grow to sell”, said Douglas
To celebrate the release, New River Brewery are donating a cask of Pumped Up! to Hertfordshire publican, Peter Tatlow of The Golden Fleece, Braughing, for a Halloween special promotion at the pub from Friday, 28th through to 31st October. Pumped Up! brew will be sold for £3.50 and all funds raised will go to Prostate Cancer UK.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Jeremy Alter & John Bourdeaux – The brewers – 07775 586 931
Douglas Smith – The grower – 07791 396 538
Peter Tatlow – The Landlord – 01920 823555
NOTES FOR EDITORS:
PHOTOS: Available on this dropbox link
FACT SHEET: Growing Giant Pumpkins
FACT SHEET: Pumpkin Brewing process
COMPANY INFORMATION:
NEW RIVER BREWERY – Jeremy Alter and John Bourdeaux
New River Brewery brews home grown, flavoursome beers to the local communities of Hertfordshire and North London. The recipes deliver simple, honest, great tasting beers. It uses locally sourced supplies wherever possible and the brewer’s water is drawn from the same sources that feed the New River in Hertfordshire. New River Brewery is an environmentally friendly and sustainable business.
We recycle our spent grain to feed local farm animals, including those at Foxholes Farm.
www.newriverbrewery.co.uk
jeremy@newriverbrewery.co.uk
SWEET PEA SALADS – Douglas Smith
Sweet Pea Salads is a small, but perfectly formed kitchen garden based at Foxholes Farm, Hertford that specialises in fresh, healthy & colourful seasonal salad. The salads are grown in environmentally friendly way without the use of pesticides or herbicides, and are available to buy via Foxholes Farm Shop or delivered direct to local pubs, cafes and restaurants on the day of harvest.
www.sweetpeasalads.co.uk
douglas@sweetpeasalads.co.uk
THE GOLDEN FLEECE – Peter and Jess Tatlow
After the pub had been closed for 10 years, the Golden Fleece was restored it to its former glory by Peter and Jess Tatlow in 2010. Keeping many of the buildings original features, Jess and breathed new life into the business and have lovingly restored it to being a delightful village pub and dining rooms at the heart of the community. Their goal is to exceed their customer expectations, to be welcomed by the friendly, well trained staff and to experience a wide variety of excellent food and drink.
Peter Tatlow – The Landlord – 01920 823555
www.thegoldenfleece.co.uk
peter@goldenfleecebraughing.co.uk
