Writer: Ben Martin
21st Century British Hops
Digital and Plus Members OnlyA certain character profile (earthy, floral, herbal) comes to mind when a brewer thinks of British hops. However that line of thinking is tied to the hops of old. Many English varieties have been released this century that are redefining British hops.
Rebel Queen
Digital and Plus Members OnlyI like to think of this as a transatlantic lager, using a U.S.-inspired malt profile with a single British hop variety (Boadicea). I’ve often thought British hops would be well-suited to lager brewing and I think this proves it. Light and refreshing, this is perfect for summer barbecues.
I Don’t Want to Change the World
Digital and Plus Members OnlyI came up with this recipe with my brewing buddy Keith Bartlett to answer a long-standing question we’d both been wondering: How close to a New England IPA could you get using only British hops? It turns out, pretty close. This beer has all the juicy, tropical fruit flavors you’d expect, complemented by a subtle spicy note just to remind you where the hops are from.
Skilled Archer
Digital and Plus Members OnlyOf everything that I’ve brewed at home over the last 12 months, this single-hopped beer seems to have achieved the greatest universal approval amongst my friends and family, despite their very different beer tastes. It’s probably best described as a British-style golden ale, but a slightly odd one given that it’s fermented with a kveik yeast. Nicely balanced, with a rich and bready malt profile and clean yeast character that allows the stone fruit aromas of the Archer® hops to shine through. I’ll be sure to make this one again.
Cask Ale
FREEIn Britain, beer is still frequently served at cellar temperatures and lightly carbonated with live yeast from casks. A British brewer who has been making these beers professionally for years shares tips to brew cask ale to your brewery.
Copper Clad Best Bitter
Digital and Plus Members OnlyCopper Clad Best Bitter (5 gallons/19 L*, all-grain)OG = 1.040 FG = 1.008IBU = 29 SRM = 11 ABV = 4.1% Every self-respecting cask ale pub in the UK will have a best bitter on the bar. This recipe uses Endeavour, a modern British hop variety, to provide a refreshing, light, and fruity character to
Ship’s Cat Dark Mild
Digital and Plus Members OnlyShip’s Cat Dark Mild (5 gallons/19 L*, all-grain)OG = 1.035 FG = 1.010IBU = 24 SRM = 24 ABV = 3.2% It is rare for me to brew the exact same recipe twice; I tend to make tweaks and adjustments even to ones I like. But I brew this recipe every late spring in time
Pantry Brew
Digital and Plus Members OnlyFood security has been playing on my mind a lot in recent months. I don’t know about your local area, but stores here in the UK temporarily ran out of a number of key supplies before and during COVID-19 lockdowns, which meant that on occasion I had to get a bit creative when cooking dinner.
To Better Times (Farmhouse Table Beer)
Digital and Plus Members OnlyTo Better Times (Farmhouse Table Beer) (5 gallons/19 L, all-grain)OG = 1.035 FG = 1.007IBU = 10 SRM = 3 ABV = 3.7% This recipe was created with one purpose in mind — to make a refreshing, tasty beer out of very little. The hops used are an illustration, but really any will do —
Crooked Nail Rustic Ale
Digital and Plus Members OnlyCrooked Nail Rustic Ale (5 gallons/19 L, all-grain)OG = 1.045 FG = 1.010IBU = No hops SRM = 9 ABV = 4.6% With no hops, homemade base malt, and recycled yeast, this beer is pretty rustic, but the wild herbs perfectly complement the grain bill to give a rich, earthy flavor. This brew uses a hybrid