UK’s best homebrew beer to hit bars across the UK following competition to brew on a commercial scale
A hazy pale named the best homebrew in the UK is set to hit the bar in a select number of venues across the UK after winning a prestigious beer awards run by the Society of Independent Brewers.
Originally brewed by champion homebrewer Sam Thakker-Jones for the SIBA Homebrew Beer Awards, the recipe was upscaled for commercial production at Quantock Brewery in Somerset and will now get a Limited National release. Sam joined Quantock, along with awards organisers SIBA and Yakima Chief Hops, to brew his beer on a commercial scale.
Sam Thakker-Jones, Homebrewer: “It’s been amazing brewing here at Quantock, really in-depth, really friendly, getting closely involved in every part of the process – from milling the grain this morning, to mashing in, adding hops, right through to the end of the brew day. I’ve loved every second of it.”
The competition was open to Homebrew Members of the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA), a not for profit trade association representing brewers both amateur and [professional across the UK.
Neil Walker, Head of Comms at SIBA joined the brew day and had this to say on Sam’s award-winning beer, “The quality of beer being brewed by the best homebrewers in the UK really is astonishing and we were blown away by Sam’s beer when it was judged. The brief was to best showcase Yakima Chief’s new experimental hop and his deliciously hoppy, hazy pale ale did exactly that. Huge congratulations to Sam and I look forward to trying his beer in a pub near me very soon!”
The hazy pale ale “Push the Button” was named as a tongue-in-cheek jibe at the differences between homebrewing and commercial brewing, where the much larger scale means some elements have to be automated. The brew makes use of an experimental new American hop ‘HBC 586’, making the finished beer “hugely aromatic and hoppy with aromas and flavours of tropical and stone fruit, backed up with citrus notes and a soft mouthfeel”.
Robbie Harrigan, from Yakima Chief Hops, also joined the brew day: “It’s been brilliant to be involved, growing our engagement with the homebrewing community, who we feel are one of the most passionate brewing communities across the globe. Many of our commercial customers around the World started out as homebrewers, so to keep engaging with these guys, and doing projects such as this one is extremely valuable and really good fun! HBC 586 is one of the latest and most exciting trial varieties from the Hop Breeding Company and is a firm favourite of everyone at Yakima Chief Hops. We were honoured to work with SIBA and Quantock to bring this trial variety to a wider market.”
As well as being available in Quantock’s taproom and specially selected venues across the UK, including Sam’s home town of Bath, a limited amount of the beer will also go into cans and be available via the Quantock webshop.
Quantock Brewer Daniel Enticott was on hand to ensure a smooth brew day, “The recipe itself is really interesting as it’s pretty much the same process as we use here for our hoppy pale ales, so transitioning the recipe from a homebrew batch up to a commercial kit has actually been pretty easy. We’re going to be selling the kegs through wholesalers nationally so there’s no limit as to where it might end up, and will also be putting the beer into can as well so it will available on our website and of course in the taproom too.”
The beer will be available at select venues across the UK and direct via Quantock www.quantockbrewery.co.uk
