A FAMILY-run farm in Herefordshire is expanding as it creates a new beer that will be the first of its kind.
Brook House Hops, in Bromyard, has teamed up with Yorkshire-based brewery, T&R Theakston and Newcastle's Wylam Brewery to create Henry's Pick, its first ever collaboration beer.
It is the first ever collaboration beer since T&R Theakston brewery was founded almost 200 years ago.
Brook House Hops have been breaking new ground in the world of hop farming since 2015 and are quickly building a reputation for growing some of the most aromatic and verdant hops in the UK and providing fast, direct delivery to breweries.
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Henry Smith, farm manager at Brook House Hops. Picture: Brookes House Hops
It was established to give brewers flexibility in their choices and quick access to the very best UK hops, without having to go via a traditionally inflexible hop merchant.
The 4.5 per cent pale ale is brewed with Wylam Brewery's choice of freshly harvested Challenger, Admiral, and Pilgrim hops from Brook House Hops alongside Theakston grist of pale, lager, and Munich malts.
This alchemy has produced a beer with a peach-like aroma, fresh citrus, and bitter hop flavour.
The beer takes its name from Henry Smith, farm manager at Brook House Hops, and alludes to the fact that it is brewed with the highest-quality in-season hops, which have been picked fresh off the bine this year.
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Will Kirby, founder of Brook House Hops, said: "The team at Brook House Hops was extremely proud to be asked to work alongside two of the most respected names in British brewing for this extra special collaboration.
"The hop varieties used in this brew have been identified as some of the finest we've ever produced, and we're confident that their intense freshness and fruity aromas will shine through in this exciting new beer.
"As two breweries with craftsmanship at the forefront of all they do, it was almost a given that Theakston and Wylam would require the very best ingredients to create Henry's Pick, so we were absolutely delighted that they came back to Brook House Hops to ask us to provide them, and that our own Henry Smith provided inspiration for the name."
To purchase a five-litre mini keg of Henry's Pick, order direct from the Theakston gift shop in Masham or its online shop theakstons.co.uk.
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