Introducing the second beer in our collaboration series – brewed at Castle Rock with the brewery apprentice Ruari Taylor-Smith from Fell Brewery. This traditional bitter brewed using regenerative barley and British hops celebrates the very best of traditional British cask beer. You’ll be able to try it first at the Robin Hood Beer and Cider Festival, launching on 8th October.
We chatted to Ruari, over lunch on the brew day, about the collab, brewing ethos, and what inspires him.
What excited you most about teaming up for this collaboration?
Getting to see a larger brewery and seeing your systems.
How did the idea for this particular style/recipe come about?
We wanted to pay homage to classic British cask.
Which part of the brewing process are you most looking forward to seeing come to life in the final beer?
The British hops.
What made you choose these ingredients?
Regenerative barley because it’s environmentally friendly, and British hops for tradition.
If you had to describe the finished beer in three words, what would they be?
Quenchable, fruit-forward and refreshing.
Was there anything experimental or unusual about this recipe compared to your usual brews?
No, just using a different kit.
For those who don’t know your brewery, how would you describe your ethos in a sentence?
Independent and environmentally focussed.
What’s your go-to beer style when you’re off duty?
Stout.
Collabs are as much about people as they are about beer – what’s been your favourite moment of the day so far?
Speaking to Jon. It was great tapping into his vast brewing knowledge which he was really generous with. He passed on lots of recipe design ideas.
How do you see your brewery’s relationship with local pubs, stockists and drinkers?
We focus on having a close relationship, being friendly and helping each other out.
What’s your own ‘perfect pint spot’?
Kean’s Head.
What trends or changes in beer excite you right now?
A trend towards drinking more cask ale.
Where do you see cask beer in the next few years?
Continuing to improve.
If you could collab with any brewery in the world, who would it be and why?
Neon Raptor, I just love their beer!
Look out for this Castle Rock x Fell collaboration at the Robin Hood Beer & Cider Festival this October – and in our bars and beyond from October.
Like what you read?
