Now we’re coming to the end of 2020 (finally!) and planning our production calendar for 2021, we’ve been looking back at the many, many beers we have brewed and released this year. In the past 12 months we have produced 450,000 litres of beer! Within that, we’ve released 12 core beers, 27 rebrews of past favourites or seasonal beers and 38 new beers or one-offs/specials. Phew!
It goes without saying it’s been a turbulent year for everyone but one thing the whole pandemic forced us to do, as a business, was quickly adapt to facilitate the growing ‘drinking at home’ market. Suddenly, we had the ability to bring out way more specials than planned. So out of all of the beers released this year, of course there has been some favourites. Here we hear from some of the Brew York team on what’s been their Beer of the Year…
Thom, Sales Executive: Ripple Twister, Raspberry Ripple Ice Cream IPA
“Ripple Twister was my beer of 2020 because it was the first time in a really long time that I “loved” a Milkshake IPA. Often they’re far too sweet for my taste but Ripple Twister had a magic balance of sweet and bitter and reminds me of Raspberry Screwballs I used chow down on after school in the summer… minus the god-awful bubble gum at the bottom of course!”
Nadia, Marketing and Social Media Manager: The Things Yuzu To Me, Yuzu IPA
“Coming into the team in mid-October one of the first specials I saw being brewed was this collaboration with our street food vendor, Yuzu. A Yuzu IPA immediately perked my attention as I love IPAs that have the balance or addition or some tart citrus fruit, which is exactly what The Things Yuzu To Me is. Brewed to celebrate the upcoming opening of our new bar in Leeds where Yuzu will also be running the kitchen there, I cannot wait to drink this Yuzu IPA alongside a couple of bao buns and spicy chicken wings. It goes so perfectly with those flavours.”
Sam, Office Manager: HYG, Peanut, Caramel & Marshmallow Imperial Milk Stout
“The original [NAME REDACTED] version of HYG is my Brew York beer of the year, simply because it helped me survive lockdown number one, and furlough, with a toddler! Other highlights were Heidi Plum and Nuba.”
Matt, Head Brewer: Rhubarbra Streisand Sour, Rhubarb and Custard Sour
“Fave beer of 2020: Rhubarbra Streisand Sour. The standard Rhubarbra Streisand, Rhubarb and Custard Pale Ale, is too sweet for my taste but the sour edition balances that sweetness perfectly with a clean tartness. It’s crushable too, at only 5%, and it’s the go to beer in our fridge for my wife too!”
Roddy, Production Manager: Go Big and Stay at Home, Triple IPA
“As a brewer it’s been great to rebrew and re-release a lot of beers this year that we’ve done previously, to revisit recipes and try to improve what we previously made. However my favourite beer is Go Big and Stay at Home, a mighty and hoppy Triple IPA brewed to my recipe that seemed very fitting to brew during the first lockdown.”
Wayne, Managing Director and Co-Owner: Big Eagle, West Coast IPA
“Other than this beer winning Gold in the Best IPA in the national category at the SIBA Beer Awards 2020 back in March, which is obviously a huge highlight, Big Eagle was one of the first beers we produced so it was awesome to see it return after a bit of a hiatus off the schedule.”
Ant, Digital Asset Management and Graphic Design Manager: Simon Le Mon, Lemon Sherbet Sour
“It has to be Simon Le Mon for me because during the heat wave it had that right amount of zing to cut through thirst like a plasma cutter. Plus, you could smash loads back whilst working the shift at London Craft Beer Festival (when it was first released in 2019) in the world’s hottest bar, it was practically a sport’s drink.”
Tony, Sales Director: Simon Le Mon, Lemon Sherbet Sour
“Fave beer of the year for me is possibly Simon Le Mon (not copying you, Ant!) but because I f*****ng love drinking it but also as it launched at start of May and sold out within two weeks, it really set up the pattern for the following lockdown belters. HYG, and also known by its previous name that we cannot mention, was also a real ‘big deal’ which was my fave for social media hypeness, and tasted banging. Big dessert stouts aren’t usually my kind of thing but HYG tasted so good it won me over.”
Luke, Regional Sales Manager: Berry Chuckle, Forest Fruits Sour Ale
“Berry Chuckle confirmed my favourite beer very early this year for me. A glass of Berry Chuckle rarely left my hand at Brew LDN back in February (remember beer festivals?!) Hoptimist Prime is an example of one of my favourite styles so have to shout that one out. Got through a case of 2 of this in lockdown which helped with home schooling! Absolutely loved Life is Peachy too and sold out instantly which is also a plus. Sorry, been a bit greedy there with my choices!”
Lee, Production Director and Co-Owner: HYG, Peanut, Caramel & Marshmallow Imperial Milk Stout
“It really has been the year of the dessert stout for us, which we already loved producing but this year have released more than ever. But HYG has definitely been my favourite out of that style. The balance of the peanut, marshmallow and caramel is just beautiful… even if I do say so myself!”
Josh, Bar Team: Goose Willis, Gooseberry Fool Sour
“In a year full of uncertainty, I found a true constant that never let me down in Goose Willis. Onto the next year, but never without ever reliable Goose Willis. Yippie-ki-yay mother pluckers!” Josh’s profile picture on our team messaging is the Goose Willis artwork so safe to say he is a major fan boy!
What’s been your favourite beer from us this year? Is there any special or one-off beer you’d absolutely love to see return for next year? Let us know on our social media and we’ll see if we can get it in the schedule for 2021! We have some amazing beers, collaborations and projects planned for 2021 that we cannot wait to tell you all about, so stay tuned and keep your eyes peeled for that.
Team Brew York x