London Brewers unite for Capital brew

Brewers from across London have joined forces to create a beer to promote the capital's contemporary brewing scene.

Members of the London Brewers Alliance have been working together to develop a special beer for a showcase event at Brew Wharf on 17 September. Over three thousand pints of 'London Brewers Porter' will be brewed for sale at beer bars and restaurants across the capital.

Seven of the capital's brewers met at the Redemption Brewery in Tottenham this week to brew a porter. The seven brewers comprised: Brodie's in East London, Camden Town Brewery, Fullers, The Ha'Penny Brewing Company, The Kernal Brewery, Meantime and Redemption Brewery.

The new brew will be a modern take on the historic dark beer style, which originated in ninteenth-century London and was a popular drink among the workers at Billingsgate and Smithfield markets.

The 2010 creation blends classic English and American hop varieties, bringing citrus notes to the porter's classic chocolate aromas.

"We want to stun the world with the diversity of London brewers — in size, age and style," said Redemption Brewery's owner and brewer, Andy Moffat. "It's incredible what we now have in London and it is a relatively recent phenomenon."

Moffat explained that by tackling the myth that the London beer scene is behind the times, compared to that in other capitals, the London Brewers Alliance strives to show that London has both a beer heritage to be proud of and its finger on the pulse of contemporary brewing trends.

The Alliance already has another collaborative brew in the pipeline, and it also has plans underway for a London Beer Week in 2011.