#ISBFX Brewday 10 - Lark Hill Brewery (aka : Another Tick on the Bucket List)
“Hey….
I heard the dandelions roar in Piccadilly Circus
I heard the dandelions roar in Piccadilly Circus
Take a packet of seeds
Take yourself out to play
I want to see River of Orchids where we had a motorway
Push your car from the road….. “
“River of Orchids” - XTC
If you know XTC, but have never heard anything from the album “Apple Venus”, have a listen. It’s astonishingly good (and very different!)
I vaguely recall an email conversation - from the early days of ISBF at Hemsley House - with Prof Ian Goodhead from Salford University.
My recollection is around the University setting up a brewing facility. In my head, I had dreams of Salford Uni setting up a mini Heriot Watt. Training the Brewers of the future.
What I didn't envisage was a brewery just a few doors down from Hemsley House!
And not a particularly small brewery either…
This became an instant “Bucket List” tick.
A brewery we needed to make a beer at. Before this event stops for good.
The idea was to try to brew there for #ISBF9, but it just didn't work out.
Then, the brewer left to go brew at Cloudwater….
Enter Jack Dixon. Former brewer at 7 Brothers and (more pertinent to ISBF) First Chop Brewing Arm (can't help but use their original name!)
Back in the St Sebastian's days, I collabed at First Chop, when the brewery in a railway arch was just off Trinity Way.
We brewed a Chai IPA. There were spices. There was a pump. They didn't get on. And Jack spent as much time cleaning and engineering that pump as he did brewing.
I recall a transfer still ongoing at 7pm…
He persevered. The beer was ace…..
Now brewing at The Old Fire Station, we made contact. And plans. And discussed possible styles to brew.
Now then. I can see the current beer list for #ISBFX. It is very stylistically diverse. If you've been to ISBF before (and most coming to #ISBFX have), you'll know this comes as standard.
We pride ourselves on that.
But I, Jim, have my particular stylistic desires. So I pitched an idea at Jack. Something with a good firm malty backbone. Colour. Hops. Something to get Chris The Commish (from my NFL Fantasy League) to travel for….
The malt bill brought the colour…. The first malt bill I can recall where the pale malt was outweighed by others.
I loved the mash tun window. Like a window onto my malty soul…
The colour we were aiming at was in evidence early, as transfer to the kettle began…
Jack was more than happy with the colour. I was thrilled.
So much so, I treated myself to an exceptional Pain Chocolat from The Old Fire Station café/bar.
Absolutely fabulous patisserie and breads.
Walking into The Old Fire Station, as you enter, you have a bakery to the right. Facing you are the exceptional range of pastries and sweet treats. Then, to the left, the bar, with a seating area that has a view into the brewery.
All in one place. An excellent set up. And rightly busy.
Team ISBF - each morning - of the event do a breakfast butty run. They're eagerly anticipated. And bloody gorgeous.
Transfer to kettle done, hop selection time…. Cascade & Citra early and late / whirlpool, with Citra, Cascade & Amarillo to be added in FV (Dry Hop).
Adding them, the place smelt divine, in the fruitiest of ways.
That colour tho…… beautiful. And just what we were after.
Time was flying. And transfer to FV was soon upon us.
Time for a brewery nerd shot.
This kit is so well laid out. There's a lot of kit in a very small space, but it never feels cramped. Superbly well designed & built.
Digging out done, transfer complete and yeast deployed, we were done - all bar the cleaning.
So. What have we brewed
“Our First American Red” - a US Red IPA at 5.3%.
The beer name is simultaneously a nod to Indie band Tubelord “Our First American Friends” and to the fact that it is indeed the first US Red brewed at Lark Hill!
The ONLY CASK will be coming to Hemsley House - and if it tastes anything like it smelled and looked on the brewday, it's going to be a belter.
You coming? Got your tickets yet? If you haven't, we've got less than a handful left on Thursday evening and not many on Saturday evening. So click here….
HUGE thanks to Jack for the invite, the brewday and his enthusiasm for what he does and his patience with my questions!
The Old Fire Station is a rather lovely place. If you're coming to ISBF, it really rewards a visit.
Back soon with Brewday 11 (then just one more to go….
Just over 3 weeks to go!
Be kind to one another.
Jim x