BREWERY PROFILES
DUVEL, BELGIUM
A
round 140 years ago, Duvel was a new brewer setting out with ambition, passion, some basic kit and not much else. Today, Duvel is one of the best known beer brands in the world, with its ultraconsistent brews making their way onto many favourites lists. Words like smooth, soft, spicy and gently fruity spring to mind when sipping an 8.5% Duvel, or a 6.8% Duvel Single. The Duvel story began when Belgian Jan-Léonard Moortgat and his wife founded the Moortgat brewery farm, not far from Antwerp in 1871 – one of over 3,000 breweries in Belgium at the time. Ironically, it was the First World War that put Duvel on the road to success, when Jan-Léonard’s son Albert, head brewer, became inspired by English ales. Albert travelled to the UK to track down a specific strain of yeast
and eventually got a sample from a Scottish brewer. Albert and his brother Victor used this yeast to brew ‘Victory Ale’ to mark the end of the war. The beer went down a storm and the story goes that during a tasting session, a local exclaimed: “This beer is a real duvel (devil)”. The name was changed and today Duvel is still brewed using yeast from that original Scottish strain.
DUVEL BREWS INCLUDE: Duvel Single, 6.8%: Dry and crisp with mild yeasty citrus notes. Carefully balanced between hops, malt and citrus. Light and crisp; intentionally not heavy or complex. Duvel, 8.5%: Fruity, dry aroma, well-hopped and with a slightly bitter aftertaste. Brewed with Saaz and Styrian Golding hops.
HARBOUR BREWING CO, CORNWALL
“I
n late 2011 we met in a Padstow pub and decided to launch a brewery,” says Eddie Lofthouse. Harbour Brewing Co was born and began to navigate the rocky road from pub chat to reality, with Rhys Powell taking on brewing duties and Eddie handling the rest. Rhys, originally from Wales, had studied brewing at Heriot-Watt University before joining Cornwall’s
Rhys Powell (left) and Eddie Lofthouse
Sharp’s Brewery; Eddie, a Lancashire lad, had been running the family business, the Atlantic Hotel in New Polzeath.“We both have a passion for beer and surfing, so we’re well placed in Cornwall,” says Rhys, who brews on a farm near Trekillick. Starting from scratch, the duo installed a versatile a 10-barrel brewery that allowed them to be creative. “We like to use the best ingredients possible,” says Eddie. “At the moment we’re experimenting with new styles, particularly German wheat beers. One of our new brewers, Sarah Hjalmarsson, is Swedish, so she’s having quite an influence too. We should have some new brews to showcase at Craft Beer Rising but if the surf’s good we sometimes don’t brew as much as we could!”
HARBOUR BREWING COMPANY BREWS INCLUDE: Amber Ale, 4%: A malt-driven ale with caramel and toffee flavour, finished with mild floral hops. India Pale Ale, 5%: A modern interpretation of the British classic with pronounced American hop aromas, citrus flavours and robust yet balanced bitterness. Pale Ale No. 5, 6%: American-inspired pale ale with massive citrus and tropical fruit notes, moderate malt body, and robust bitterness.
Craft Beer Rising Winter/Spring 2014 21