The Chiltern Brewery and Birchall join forces to create a New Earl Grey IPA ‘Brew’
Head Brewer Tom Jenkinson of The Chiltern Brewery and Daniel Graham, Managing Director of quality tea business Birchall, have joined forces to create a new beer, Earl Grey IPA 3.9% vol. Brewed by The Chiltern Brewery, it is flavoured with fragrant single origin Earl Grey Tea from Birchall. A great idea that came – like all the best ideas they say – over a pint. Head Brewer Tom Jenkinson of The Chiltern Brewery explains. “Our cousin introduced us to Birchall. We loved their teas, which we now stock at our brewery tap – the King’s Head in Market Square Aylesbury and realized there were many parallels between us. We are both long standing businesses with a strong family heritage that believe in sourcing the finest ingredients to create the best tasting products. The next and exciting logical step therefore was to combine the two!”
Daniel Graham, Birchall’s Managing Director says. “We are delighted that The Chiltern Brewery took inspiration from our very own single origin Earl Grey to craft this new distinct style of beer. We’ve always taken a great deal of pride in our Earl Grey and I hope that this ground-breaking Earl Grey IPA will be as well received by ale drinkers as our Earl Grey Tea is by the nation’s tea drinkers.”
This was always such an exciting idea for a great tasting ale. Early discussions and trials suggested that the pure origin Virunga East African Single Estate Tea, from one of Rwanda’s leading estates, would offer the most potential flavour wise. After 4 months of trials the new “brew” has been perfected. Earl Grey IPA 3.9% vol will be a new special limited edition beer available in March of this year.
Brewer David McGovern has used the best malting barley and freshest English hops and infused them expertly with Birchall’s famously fragrant Earl Grey tea to create an extra pale, refreshing, citrus ale with pleasingly spicy and floral notes. It will be a great beer for the milder spring season.
“Will it beer match with biscuits?” asks Tom. “If it does there should be no dunking!” adds Daniel.
The Chiltern Brewery in Terrick near Wendover, Buckinghamshire, has been at the forefront of the revival of classic English ale styles for 36 years and their award-winning beers are brewed with the finest English malt and hops – naturally.
Birchall is a family-owned tea company, based in London, with roots in the trade dating back over 140 years. The company specialises in single origin and blended black teas from East Africa, in addition to green teas and fruit and herbal tea blends. Since 2011, Birchall has won 25 gold star awards at The Guild of Fine Food’s Great Taste Awards and its signature Great Rift Breakfast Blend has received honours for five consecutive years www.birchalltea.co.uk
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