Month: September 2023

The next iteration of our Sparkling Hop Water is out now, this time featuring another of our favourite hops, Mosaic!

Whilst our Sparkling Hop Water is very much not an alcohol free beer, instead sitting more comfortably in the soft drink category, it is inspired by the ingredients we know and love from our core business. As such, the hops we have selected so far are those which we’re incredibly familiar with from the beer making process. The prototype batch, featuring Nelson Sauvin, was an instant hit – this hop features in our Deception New Zealand pale ale, and is renowned for notes of white grape and elderflower, which worked perfectly in our relaxing and spritzy soft drink.

Whilst we’re delighted with how batch one came out, it isn’t really the Abbeydale way to simply settle for the first thing we’ve tried – we always prefer to experiment, push the boundaries, explore and continually keep on learning. So, for the second release we’ve looked to the Brewers Emporium range and our Heathen American Pale Ale for inspiration, and settled on a Mosaic hopped sparkling water this time.

Expect the same refreshing and delicate hit of flavour, but with subtle notes of grapefruit and mango creating a citrussy, tropical effervescence on the palate. We think it pairs sublimely with a spicy Thai salad, but its gentle sparkle also makes it the perfect post-run pint! Best served over ice, with a slice of your favourite fresh citrus fruit, or dried mango if you’re feeling fancy!

No booze, no artificial flavourings, no caffeine, and naturally low in sugar and carbohydrates – a true elixir of spritzy, zesty, mindful drinking! Head to our online shop to pick yourself up some cans, or look out for them on the shelves of independent venues!

0% alcohol, 100% refreshing.

What hop would you like to see us try next?!

Cheers,

Team Abbeydale

We thought it was about time you got to know the people of Team Abbeydale a little bit better, so we’re starting a series of blogs sharing their stories. Kicking things off is the lovely Mick, from our sales team!

First up, the basics! What’s your name and where do you come from?

I’m Michael, known to my colleagues and customers as Mick. I live at Loxley, just a hop and a skip into the Peak District and the parish of Ecclesfield, but I’m originally from the top of Fox Hill and spent my youth biking in the woods and playing on the farms making tree swings and dens. Sheffield born and bred!

What is your role at Abbeydale Brewery?

Predominantly sales, but I like to be as helpful as I can be in all aspects of the business. Mainly my day-to-day role involves chatting to our customers, whether over the phone or heading out on the road to say hello in person!

What’s your favourite beer and why?

So my previous favourite was a barrel aged sour from Wild Beer called Modus Operandi, but if I’m just after a nice reliable pint I can trust it’s got to be Heathen!

What’s your favourite thing about working at Abbeydale Brewery?

The camaraderie and the sense of belonging to something more than just a workplace.

Best place to enjoy a pint?

Tricky question! I love a pint at my local, the Wisewood Inn, and they also do a cracking Sunday dinner. But for sheer banter and a good laugh I love the Beekeeper in Hillsborough, and after a day in the sea it has to be the North Riding in Scarborough.

Where did you have your first (legal!) pint?

In the Traveller’s at Wadsley Bridge, which is also where I proposed to my wife! The pub itself has now been knocked down, but the fire place from it which is where we met is now in the Millowners down at Kelham Island Museum.

Favourite snack to enjoy alongside a beer?

Cheese and crackers, or a good bratwurst if at an event.

When you’re not selling beer, what do you get up to?

I like to be near the sea, lakes or rivers with my surfboard and dog Storm, although my surfboard rarely gets any use these days unfortunately.

And finally… If you were a cartoon character, who would it be?

Speedy Gonzales as I love Mexican food (as long as it’s not too spicy) and that sombrero would fit nicely in my hat collection. I’m also partial to a little tequila. One day I’d love to visit Mexico. A fast, quick witted hero – what’s not to like?!

We’re incredibly excited to announce that we’re one of 12 breweries taking part in COLLABAGEDDON 2023, an incredible beery event curated by the wonderful Elusive Brewing.

The concept for Collabageddon is simple: 12 breweries, each paired up with two others to create one “home” collaboration and one away, resulting in an innovative and eclectic mix of beers that launch across a variety of venues nationwide in a true celebration of our wonderful beery community.

We’re delighted to have been paired up with absolute lager masters Utopian Brewing for the “away” leg of our Collabageddon journey, and have already visited their state-of-the-art brewery near Exeter to be guided through our first decoction mash, a fantastic learning experience and what these brewdays are all about (as well as of course the obligatory sharing a pint or three!). Together we have created a Nelson Sauvin single hopped lager which we got brewed nice and early to allow time for traditional lager maturation techniques to take place. Thank you to Jeremy, Richard, Ben and all at Team Utopian for their impeccable hosting and a brilliant day.

And in a few weeks, we can’t wait to welcome Bristol’s Good Chemistry Brewing to the steel city where we’ll be co-creating a dry hopped pineapple pale ale! Plenty of oats and wheat to give a plenty of body to a beer that’s packed with punchy pineapple and dry hopped with the combo of Sabro, Talus and El Dorado, which back up the character of the fruit as well as providing luscious notes of zesty pink grapefruit and a hint of creamy coconut. Tropical vibes and good times await!

These beers, along with ten more brewed by our fellow Collabageddon compadres, launch across the country on Friday 17^th November, so save the date! Head to Elusive’s blog for full details of all the breweries, beers and venues getting involved, and keep an eye on their social media too as they’ll be the first to share any updates. We’ve copied the list of beers and venues as it stands below too!

Do let us know what you’re excited for and where you’ll be drinking them on November 17^th – you’ll find Team Abbeydale at the Rutland Arms! And a huge thank you to Andy and Ruth at Elusive for having us involved – it truly is a privilege.

Cheers!

THE MATCHUPS & BEERS

Abbeydale x Good Chemistry – 5% Dry Hopped Pineapple Pale

Baker’s Dozen x Merakai – 6% Millionaire’s Shortbread Stout

Elusive x Baker’s Dozen – 6% New Zealand Black IPA

Glasshouse x Red Willow – 4.5% Session IPA

Good Chemistry x Utopian – 4.8% Smokey Brown Ale

Merakai x Glasshouse – 7.2% Oatcream IPA

Moonwake x Tartarus – 5% Black Lager

Polly’s Brew Co x Elusive – 3.8% West Coast Session Pale

Red Willow x Sureshot – 6.5% Red Rye IPA

Sureshot x Moonwake – 6.5% New Zealand NEIPA

Tartarus x Polly’s Brew Co – 6.5% Passionfruit & Coconut IPA

Utopian x Abbeydale – 5.2% Single Hopped Lager w/Nelson Sauvin

THE VENUES

Inn Deep – Glasgow

Moonwake* & Lost in Leith* – Leith

The Free Trade Inn* & The Town Mouse – Newcastle

Indie Craft Beer – Kendal

The Woodworkers – Belfast

The Black Cat – Liverpool

GRUB – Manchester

Red Willow – Macclesfield

The Rutland Arms – Sheffield

The Canal House – Nottingham

The Kings Head – Stamford

Tilt – Birmingham

Radio City Social – Chelmsford

Kill The Cat – London

The Green Goddess – London

The Nags Head – Reading

Fuggles – Tonbridge* & Tunbridge Wells*

Beer No Evil – Worthing

The Bookshop Alehouse – Southampton

The Kings Head* & The Good Measure* – Bristol

Craft Republic – Barry

The Bread & Roses – Plymouth

*starred venues will be pouring 6 beers each*