Peak Ales Collab Brew Day
They say good things come to those who wait – and after two previous attempts were scuppered, our long-awaited collab with Peak Ales finally came together on a gloriously sunny Friday, in the heart of the Peak District. It was definitely worth the wait!
Our Head Brewer Jon, joined by Duke from Sales and Rachel from Marketing, drove up to Bakewell to meet Thom, Tom and Matt from Peak Ales. Nestled just outside the town is their impressive purpose-built brewery – complete with a gin distillery that supplies Chatsworth House. It was the perfect backdrop for a day of brewing, chatting and sharing ideas.
The Beer: Castle on The Peak – A Juicy 4% ABV Session NEIPA
When two sets of brewers get their heads together, great things happen. After exchanging ideas over the previous few months, the brewers landed on a hazy, juicy 4% session NEIPA – a beer that’s all about easy drinking with bags of flavour.
With UK hop, Jester delivering soft tropical notes and a gentle bitterness, balanced by a classic combination of Citra and Simcoe from the US bringing layers of bright citrus, ripe mango and a soupçon of pine. Expect a pillowy-soft mouthfeel alongside big hop character and a smooth finish without the big ABV.
A Day of Brewing
With Jon, Thom and Tom taking charge of the mash, the day was off to a flying start. Fuel was provided by the brilliant Ginger Butchers – brekkie cobs and Derbyshire oatcakes loaded with cheese, beans and eggs really hit the spot!
Rachel joined Peak Ales owner Rob in the gin distillery for a rundown of the process. It’s clear that their gins, infused with botanicals sourced from the grounds and greenhouses of the nearby Chatsworth estate, are every bit as carefully crafted as their beers.
Then it was back to the brewery for mashing out and into the boil…
A Perfect Finish
After a bit of hard work (and plenty of fun!) in the brew house, we rounded off the day with a short trip up the road to the Monsal Head Stables Bar, a charming Peak Ales stockist. With stunning views over the Peak District and a pint of Peak’s Bakewell Best Bitter in hand, it was the perfect toast to a successful collab and a day well spent.
Coming Soon…
The brew is now fermenting and we cant wait to share it with you once it’s ready. Keep an eye out for Castle on The Peak on draught in a pub near you. A juicy NEIPA born from friendship, collaboration and a sunny day in the Peaks.
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