Above: Left to right: Nadia and Lee from Brew York with Christine from the Vat and Fiddle, our brewery tap.
We were delighted to welcome Lee and Nadia, brewers from Brew York , to our brewery for a day of collaboration, good beer and plenty of great conversation.
Given the time of year, when thoughts are turning to getting cosy in a lovely warm pub, we decided to brew something a little indulgent, a maple, pecan and tonka been stout called Stout of Mind. The combination of rich, nutty and sweet flavours will make for a lovely stout.
Above: Brewer Ade chats hops with Nadia and Lee
Our respective brew teams had been batting ideas for the brew back and forth in the months leading up to brew day, so it was great to see it all finally come together.
Independent Breweries, Great Conversations
A collaboration brew day isn’t just about what’s going into the fermenter. It’s also a brilliant opportunity to catch up with fellow brewers, share ideas and talk about what’s happening in the wider beer scene – especially in different regions of the country.
Above: Left to right, Ade and Matt, from Castle Rock with Nadia and Lee from Brew York
We had some great conversations about the independent brewery scene in Nottingham, which we’re lucky to be a part of. With so many indie breweries in a a relatively small area there’s a real sense of community and plenty of opportunities to support each other.
One of the best examples of this it the Nottingham Independents’ Beer Festival which brings together independent breweries from across the city to put on a fantastic festival in the iconic surroundings of Nottingham Castle – the next one is due to be held on 14th and 15th May 2027. It’s a brilliant celebration of the people, passion and creativity that make Nottingham’s beer scene what it is.
It was interesting to hear Nadia’s perspective on things in York, where there are considerably fewer breweries than in Nottingham, with much of the local scene tending to gravitate towards nearby Leeds. It’s a good reminder of just how important those independent brewing communities are. Sharing ideas (as well as ingredients when deliveries don’t arrive as scheduled!) is a big part of what makes the brewing industry pretty special. There’s an overriding sense of camaraderie which is uncommon in other industries.
Whisky and wort
With the stout safely in tank it was time to taste some wort, with a splash of warming whisky, the verdict was a resounding thumbs-up!
Time for lunch, and a pint
A brew day wouldn’t be a brew day without a visit to our brewery tap, the Vat and Fiddle for a delicious lunch – it was a chilly day so we all opted for bangers, mash and onion gravy which hit the spot perfectly. Lee and Nadia were impressed with the range of cask ale on offer and opted to try our recent collab with Arbor – Easton Meadows – a very tasty ESB, followed by our legendary Screech Owl – both got an emphatic thumbs-up!
We can’t wait to try Stout of Mind, which will be pouring in our pubs and beyond from 16th November, and are excited to have been invited back to brew with Lee and Nadia in January.
Cheers,
Team CRB
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