Antipodean IPA brews from Acorn Brewery
Yorkshire’s innovative Acorn Brewery has created a fourth range of single hop IPA (India Pale Ale) brews to showcase New Zealand varieties in 2010.
Hops from the UK, USA and Europe have all previously been featured as demand for the brews has grown each year. With only the hop changing, all beers are brewed to the same recipe at 5%abv and the innovation has been recognised with a SIBA (Society of Independent Brewers) Business Award.
Rolled out this month (January) the first brew was Pacific Gem with ‘distinctive berry fruit aroma. It will be followed by Motueka in February offering ‘a desirable new world “noble” type aroma’ and New Zealand Cascade for March, delivering ‘exceptional levels of citrus, with grapefruit characteristics’.
Later ales will be brewed with Green Bullet, Nelson Sauvin, Riwaka and Hallertauer Aroma. The remaining months in 2010 will be made up from the most popular hops from the past three years.
With 34 IPA cask ales brewed since 2007, Acorn brewers believe they have probably already established a world record for brewing single variety hopped ales in this original 19th century premium strength style.
Acorn managing director and head brewer Dave Hughes said: ““With hop supplier Charles Faram, we have again sourced hops to create distinctive cask-conditioned IPA ales. New Zealand hops are still in the stage of being explored by UK brewers, so this line up makes up a very interesting range.
“Since we began brewing IPA we have continually increased production as licensees demand more each month. This success has helped our growth and also highlighted our quality and innovation.”
One of Yorkshire’s fastest growing breweries, since launching in 2003 Acorn has invested in a new brewery and now has a production capacity of 100 barrels a week. Original core brews Barnsley Bitter, Barnsley Gold and Old Moor Porter have won some forty awards.
Festive sales have once again proved buoyant, up by 27.per cent in 2009 over 2008. The Barnsley brewer delivers direct across Yorkshire, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Cheshire and the North Midlands while leading wholesalers distribute across the UK. Press Release 4th January 2010
Kelham Island - Sheffield
The Brewery will be linking up with famed local artist Pete McKee for a series of pump clips over the next year. Some will feature local scenes and commemorate anniversaries. The first is Lady’s Bridge, named to honour the re-opening of Sheffield’s famous Lady’s Bridge, this beer is a hoppy, refreshing pale ale. The malt character is lifted with a small addition of pale chocolate malt and challenger hops give the beer a crisp bitterness with a citrus, slightly grapefruit aroma.
On January 14th 1761 work began on widening Lady’s Bridge from 14 feet 8 inches to 38 feet. The pillars of the first stone bridge that date from the reign of Henry Vll were embedded in the new structure and remain there. A wooden structure stood on the site from 1185 ,built as an access route to Sheffield Castle and marking the northern limit of the town .The bridge got it’s name from a chapel beneath it. at water level on the left side going out of town, the Chapel of our Lady. In 1865 the bridge was widened again to 50 feet at a cost of £3,385.10s. A ducking stool was kept on the bridge in the 17th century to punish scolding and unruly Kelham Island women. (Sheffield Chronicles by J.P.BEAN) Local guitar hero and noted beer drinker
Richard Hawley released an album named after the famous bridge after reading that may bodies from the great Sheffield flood washed up onto it.
Bete Noire (5.5%) has made a comeback, this is a full bodied hi-risk stout made with entirely British hops. Two different chocolate and roasted malts combine to give a coffee, dark chocolate, malty beer with a pleasant mild hop aroma. The complex rich finish is long and lingering with hints of sweetness.
Some more specials coming up to look out for.
Not Fade Away (4.0%), brewed to mark the 50th anniversary of Buddy Holly’s death is a rich, is a traditional malty bitter.
45RPM (4.5%) is a hoppy pale ale that screams fruit! Maris otter malt plays an excellent supporting role for aroma hops from New Zealand that give juicy gooseberry aromas that make the mouth water. The palate is sweet at first before the big hop flavours explode with berrys, citrus and lemon grass tones before giving way to a lovely lingering bitterness. Sheffield Beer Matters, Feb 2009
Abbeydale - Sheffield
The brewery is starting the new year with some changes. Richard Hough who had been with Abbeydale for some seven years
decided to move on and is now brewing for Acorn Brewery in Barnsley. In the short term he will be replaced by a shifting of roles while Abbeydale consider the best way to replace him long term. So Patrick is getting back into the brewhouse on a regular basis
while Dan Baxter is dividing his time between the sales office, visiting customers and brewing. Dan has recently completed a
brewing course with David Smith which has consolidated his knowledge and he is brewing under the capable mentorship of Patrick and Mike Richards, who has been doing the majority of the brewing at Abbeydale in the last few years.
The brewers have been concocting an exciting programme of seasonal and special beers for 2009 with some new beers and the return of some old favourites. First up is old favourite Vespers, a 4.2% dark porter with full dark malt and fruit flavours. This is also a very popular pumpclip. It is joined by new favourite Deception, which many of you will remember from last year, a pale beer at 4.1%
made with the fabulous Nelson Sauvin hops from New Zealand. It is a pale, hoppy and refreshing with wonderful grassy aromas and flavours from the hops. The Beerworks special for February will be UXB at 4.5%. There are then plans for new Abbeydale beers and new beers in the Dr Mortons range as well as the return of Abbeydale favourites such as Belfry, Resurrection and Holy Water later in the year. Sheffield Beer Matters, Feb 2009
Acorn Brewery - Barnsley A new member of staff has joined the brewery in the new year, and Barnsley CAMRA would
like to welcome Richard Hough. Richard is from Abbey dale Brewery , Sheffield where he was
head brewer.
New beers available now are Bullseye, this is a 4.5% Red beer, and as we went to print I could
f ind nothing more about it, so looking forward to finding it in the area. Also Savinjski IPA 5%.
This is the first in the new series of European single hopped IPA and f or February it’s Brewers
Gold IPA 5% abv with March being Perle IPA 5% and April being Bobek IPA 5%.
Dave Hughes was extremely pleased to report that sales over the Christmas period were up
20% on the previous year proving once again that quality cask ale is bucking the trend on
sales within the drinks sector. Updated February 2009
Acorn Brewery
A new beer CRACKERJACK 4.7%, pale golden bitter brewed with Scorachi hops. This
was av ailable in November, and was one for the hopheads. CRYSTAL MAZE at 4.5%
should still be with us if you're an early reader of the BAR. It's a rich amber coloured malty bitter with hints of toffee. Christmas Beers will see SNOWSTORM at 4% which will be a pale hoppy bitter, and also 6TH NOEL 5.3% Rich ruby red malty fruity ale. GORLOVKA is out in the pubs on draught, and good news is it is now av ailable bottle conditioned from the brewery shop. BARNSLEY BITTER will be available in bottles from 15th December.
More real ale is also available for any Christmas or New Year Parties your planning. 5 Litre mini casks of Barnsley Bitter, Barnsley Gold, Old Moor Porter, Yorkshire Pride and Gorlovka available cask conditioned. The new brewery shop is now up and running and as we go to print the on-line brewery shop was being put into place, so call round or visit www.acorn-brewery .co.uk The last of the American IPA's is NUGGET IPA 5% this IPA has a resinous hoppy aroma.
The new 2009 range of IPA's are from European countries and start in January with
SLOVINSKI 5%, February BREWERS GOLD 5%, March PERLE 5% and April BOBEK 5%, If these are as good as they sound I think we're in for some more great IPA's. Updated December 2008
Acorn Brewery
The brewery continues to enable drinkers to educate their palate by producing an IPA at 5% which fatures a different hop variety each month. In the pubs in September there was the 9th in the series of merican hopped ales featuring Willamette hops, out for October is the Centennial variety with Ahtanum and Nuggett for November and December respectfully.
The seasonal beer f or October is Kashmir which is a 4.7% dark malty premium ale.
No doubt some readers will be pleased to hear that with the onset of darker nights the 6% Imperial Russian Stout Gorlavka is once again available.
And following positive feedback from the special
Yorkshire Day brew - Yorkshire Pride, they have decided to bring out the beer as a permanent to their portfolio, this is now available.
The brewery was once again a finalist at the Great British Beer Festival with Barnsley Bitter for the third year running. The highlight was picking up a silver in 2006.
Trade continues to develop well with yet another batch of casks acquired to meet the growing demand for the brewery's ales. Updated September 2008
Acorn Brewery
In early May Acorn Barnsley Bitter and Old Moor Porter were at the New England Real Ale Exhibition, Somerville, MA. Which leads us onto the US IPA’s. The latest in their range of American hopped IPAs, will be Cascade for June and Liberty for July, both at 5% abv. Summer Pale 4.1% abv is also back and will be available both via the free trade and the Siba Direct Delivery Scheme. Need a new shirt, T-shirt or hat? Acorn branded clothing is now available, in both male and female styles. Updated May 2008
Oakwell Brewery
Firstly may I thank the head brewer Jonathan Stancill for a recent tour of the brewery, I unfortunately was unable to make the tour but those who did had a great time, I look forward to another chance in the near future. A budding author was on the tour and an article can be found on page 14. To add to this, the brewery is doing very well and beer sales in the January February new year lull have not dropped. Also the Market, Elsecar has opted for Oakwell’s Old Tom 3.4% abv to be the house mild for the foreseeable future. Updated April 2008
Acorn Brewery
The Barnsley branch would like to thank Acorn for a recent tour of their new brewery, as well as the sampling room and bar...
Mount Hood IPA has been the best selling in the 5% abv IPA's so far, and Cluster IPA for March looks like it could match in sales. The US hopped IPA's are selling well, and when I asked Dave Hughes, what's for 2010? he said European hops, and 2011? Others we haven't used yet...
Other new beers have been Madness 4.4%, some football themed Tangerine Dreamer 3.7% and Bloomfield 4.5% (Blackpool FC). New beers for April May are Barnsley Glory 4.5%, the return of St Georges Best 4.6% Chinook IPA 5% (April) then Palisade IPA 5% (May) as well as the return of Darkness 4.2% a dark mild.
If you want a chance to try all the Acorn beers then you're in luck, for one week commencing 28th April Acorn beers will be showcasing at the Joseph Bramah, Barnsley. Five Acorn beers will be available at any one time. Updated April 2008
Acorn Brewery
Old Moor Porter has picked up a medel at this years Champion Winter Beer of Britain. This full bodied victorian style porter with hints of liquorice picked up bronze in the Porter catagory. Well done everyone.
Updated February 2008
The White Rose Brewery - Sheffield
The beers are being brewed part time at the Sheffield Brewery plant, while they slowly build a brewery next door. The next door building is only temporary until a larger building "with character, i.e. not a modern unit" can be found (anywhere in South Yorkshire). The brewers are Gary Sherrif who was head brewer for quite a while at Wentworth Brewery and Engineer, also Eric Butcher an engineer (not sure of any brewery background) a Barnsley CAMRA member. Updated January 2008
Acorn Brewery - Barnsley
We welcome John Haig to the brewery as Brewery Manager is John was the brewery's accountant. We also welcome Aston who is the drayman and brewery hand. New Beers in January were Amarillo IPA 5% the first in the series using USA hops; Kashmir 4.7% a ruby coloured malty beer. February sees Mount Hood IPA 5% another USA hop IPA and Bloomfield 4.5%. In March is the next USA hop
IPA Cluster IPA 5%. The branch are planning a brewery tour to Acorn on Thursday 21st February. If you want to reserve your place at the brewery (limited numbers) then please contact Margaret asap, CAMRA members and their guests only. Updated January 2008
Kelham Island - Sheffield Final negotiations for the new site are taking place. It is hoped that work on the new brewery site will start in autumn, the move to a larger site is long overdue as beer for export orders are having to be brewed at other breweries due to lack of capacity. Updated January 2008
Kelham Island - Sheffield
Also winners from SIBA this time in the Best PR Initiative. Floods in Sheffield in June, made the brewery an island! Beer lost and brewing stopped for some time. Potential loss of customers threatened the future. But a hastily conceived and brilliant PR response enabled the company to rise above the water and turn disaster into a marketing opportunity. Press releases to all media within 2 days kept customers informed of developments. This made national and local TV, radio and newspaper coverage. A special beer and a beer festival including local flood-hit pubs maintained the interest and consolidated the success of the company’s initiative. Well done Kelham Island. Updated November 2007
Acorn Brewery - Wombwell The team seem to have settled down well into their bigger site, and brewing is just as busy as ever. The new beers for Christmas are the 5th Noel at 5.2% abv and also a light, well hopped 4.1% abv beer called Guiding Star. New IPA for the new year will be from American Hops the January IPA is Centennial the hop has a very pronounced and unique flavour. February IPA is Mount Hood, this hop is spicy and slightly sweet, both these are 5%.
Acorn have again picked up a SIBA award, this time in the Best Innovation category. In its short time of brewing (2003) the brewery has attracted the attention of the free trade customers. New and extraordinary beers, the series of the IPA’s using one single English (now American) Hop was well received by publicans in Yorkshire, reporting that their customers were impressed with brews. In March 2007 the first IPA was brewed (10 barrels) by May the brew length was 30 barrels. This has boosted since a leading wholesaler got behind them. Well done Acorn. Updated November 2007
The Crown Brewery - Sheffield
Tom Delaney is the manager at the Crown Brewery, Sheffield. The brewery is now back up and running with new full time brewer Stuart Ross (formally of the Kalham Island Tavern and Acorn breweries), Stuart has revised all the Crown recipes. The brewery now have the following beers available both in the Hillsborough Hotel and to the free trade. H.P.A. 3.9% abv; Loxley Gold 4.5% abv; Samuel Berrys 5.1% abv; Middlewood Mild 3.8% abv; Stannington Stout 5.0% abv; Traditional Bitter 4.0% abv; Primrose Pale 4.2% abv. You can contact the brewery and Hotel by E-mail hillsborough-h@btconnect.com or call 0114 2322100. Updated September 2007
Acorn Brewery - Barnsley
Good news from the brewery is their move to the new site is now complete and brewing has started. Four beers had been brewed as I type this and all was going well. The IPA’s are very popular and are flying out, and a new permanent beer to the portfolio will be Blonde, this was showcased at the Gatehouse and proved to be a popular choice by the drinkers. Updated September 2007
Wentworth Brewery - Wentworth
Promotion for Michelle Bright as the new head brewer (Brewster) at the age of 26. Michelle has already produced award winning beers, just this year at Oakwood Real Ale and Music Festival in Rotherham Michelle picked up a Gold Award. Her past job was an chef for the army where she served in Kosovo.
Updated September 2007
Acorn Brewery of Barnsley
The move to the new site is more or less on time and brewing is set to start in the first week
in August. The IPA’s have been very popular with the drinking public, in August the hop for
the IPA will be Fuggles and September Bramling Cross. Due to the demand the IPA’s will
continue into next year, in January the brewery will be using American hops and they will all
continue at 5% abv. Updated July 2007
Clarkson’s Old Brewery Barnsley Ltd
Little is know at the moment about the company, they formed in March 2006 and bottled lagers have been seen on shelves in Barnsley pubs (produced under licence in Germany).
The company is registered to Pontefract Road, Cudworth with a PO Box number 223. The contents of the bottle was nothing to write home about. I tried it in January and thought nothing more of it. Do you have any more news about the brewery? Updated July 2007
Acorn Brewery of Barnsley
The single hopped I.P.A. are selling well, you may still catch Goldings I.P.A. but if not you can
drink Challenger I.P.A. in June, First Gold I.P.A. in July and in August and September it’s
Fuggles I.P.A. and Bramling Cross I.P.A. I did ask about some American hopped I.P.A.’s and
Dave may still try them later, but there are loads of UK hops to try first.
Other than the I.P.A.’s another new beer NORTHERN PRIDE 3.7% is available until the end
of June, and the sales of Darkness Mild have been the best ever for the month of May.
May also saw the launch of Acorn bottled beers in Threshers off licences throughout
Yorkshire via the SIBA Direct Delivery Scheme.
It is hoped that brewing will start on the new plant in early July, this would be great as the
breweries birthday is the 4th July - Happy Birthday Acorn. Updated May 2007
Acorn Brewery of Barnsley
The planned move getting closer, the painters have been into the new premises and now as we
speak, the builders are in. A range of 5% IPA’s have started to come out of the brewery. Each
one will be brewed with one variety of Hop. So possible names for forthcoming IPA’s could be
Chinook, Hallertauer, Magnum or Warrior… Updated March 2007
Acorn Brewery of Barnsley
We welcome Stuart Ross from the Kelham Island Brewery. Stuart comes to Acorn Brewery with a solid background in brewing and Dave Hughes says he is sure he will become a very valued member of staff.
Stuart’s job title will be Production Manager and will be assisting Steve Bunting with the brewing and also assisting Dave with the commissioning of the new 20 barrel plant.
The appointment of Stuart also sees the promotion of John Bell (dray-man) to Transport and Logistics manager, in charge of a fleet of 3 vehicles.
New beer for January is Northdown Blonde 4.1% brewed using Northdown hops. Also
winter Ale 4.5% will be available in Jan and Feb. February sees the return of XL 5%,( brewed originally to celebrate Steve Bunting's 40th birthday ) as we are celebrating Judi Hughes's 40th ( accounts manager and Dave's wife ). Updated January 2007.
Kelham Island - Sheffield
So having lost Stuart the brewery now has a new Head Brewer, it is congratulations to Dominic Flynn - the new Head Brewer. Dominic joined the brewery in February 2005 as the assistant brewer and was promoted to Head Brewer in December 2006. Dave Wickett said "Dominic is extremely passionate about brewing and we look forward to him carrying on the success with our regular beers but also making his mark and creating some exciting new brews in 2007!!!". Updated January 2007.
Acorn Brewery of Barnsley
Things have been a little hectic at the brewery, the Gorlovka Imperial Stout has become so popular that it is now on the permanent beer list. The beer also won class winner and overall champion at Wakefield Beer Festival in October.
The brewery’s plans to move to larger premises were hit with a set back when the new site was gazumped from them, but a new unit has now been secured and the brewery bought from Blackpool will be installed in the new year. New beers over the last months were Green Bullet 4.6% and Silver Star 4%. A new beer due as I type is Nutcracker 4% pale with malt, rye malt and Herald Hops. The 4th Noel at 5.1% should also be out of the fermenters and out in January the return of Winter Ale 4.5%.
Stuck for a Christmas present for the beer drinkers on your list? Acorn have a branded gift box containing Old Moor Porter, and Barnsley Gold, available from the brewery now, only Ł6. See page 16 for contact info or spend some time on the breweries website at www.acornbrewery.net. The site has loads of information about the brewery and their beers as well as contact information. Updated November 2006
Acorn Brewery of Barnsley
Congratulations go to everyone at Acorn brewery. In August at the Great British Beer Festival, Barnsley Bitter picked up the Silver Award for Champion Beer of Britain in the Bitters section with Barnsley Bitter. Congratulations again. A silver award was also picked up at the Darfield Cricket Club festival for XL. The new long awaited 6% stout “Gorlovka” is now available but if you are in the pub with our branch chair and Acorn Brewery Liaison Officer Eric, don’t let him see you ordering it, he says it’s all his. Updated October 2006
Acorn Brewery of Barnsley
Congratulations to Acorn Brewery on picking up a Silver Award at the Champion Beer Of Britain Competition at the Great British Beer Festival in Earls Court. The award was for Barnsley Bitter in the Bitter category. The new website for the brewery is also now up and running. Updated August 2006.
Rod Rivers is now the new (lad) at the brewery. A new (beer) XL 5% abv or there abouts. This is a cask lager and is brewed for Steve Bunting’s (brewer) 40th birthday, many happy returns Steve.
In July the brewery Celebrated its 3rd birthday. Since its first brew on 4th July 2003 trade has grown at a rapid rate. The first brew from the 10 barrel brewery was Acorn Barnsley Bitter 3.8% abv and since then many more fine beers have been brewed. In May the brewery brewed its one millionth pint, a big achievement for a small brewery like Acorn.
Many of the beers coming from the brewery have won both CAMRA and SIBA (Small Independent Brewery Association) competitions with Old Moor Porter winning its class nationally at the SIBA beer competition 2004 and 2005 and Barnsley Gold winning Gold at Oakwood in 2005.
Expansion of the brewery is now under way with the purchase of a 20 barrel brew plant from Blackpool, this would bring the brewery up to a capacity of 120 barrels (about 35,000 pints) per week. New premises are now being looked at to accommodate the new brewery plant and hospitality area together with a retail outlet. It is hoped that completion of the move will be around 6 months. Updated July 2006
Wed 10th Mar Tasting Panel social at the Pack Horse, Royston, everyone welcome. from here its into town for more local
beers. Start at 8pm off the 7.30pm 59 bus.
Sat 20th Mar Leeds Beer Festival at Pudsey. Catch the 11.12am train to Leeds.
Mon 22nd Mar Beer Festival Meeting at the Shaw Lane Sports Club. Everyone welcome. Starts at 7.30pm
Tues 23rd Mar BAR distribution social at the George and Dragon, Summer Lane, Barnsley. 8pm onwards
Tues 30th Mar to Thurs 1st April Festival set up date at Milton Hall, Elsecar
Wed 31st Mar Branch meeting (Note change of date) at the Milton Arms, Elsecar. 8pm. Catch the 66 bus at 7.25pm
Fri 2nd to Sun 4th April Barnsley Beer Festival, Milton Hall, Elsecar, Barnsley - 12 noon till 10.30pm
