Manchester’s breweries old and new join forces
The partnership will be JW Lees’ first in more than 15 years, following a collaboration with Brooklyn Brewery in 2001, when Brooklyn Best and Manchester Star were first brewed.
JW Lees is a traditional brewery founded in 1828, while Cloudwater launched just last year and focuses on showcasing seasonal ingredients at their best.
JW Lees' head brewer Michael Lees-Jones, said: “We love the idea of bridging the gap between nearly two centuries of brewing heritage and the modern craft-beer scene. We love the beers brewed by Cloudwater and we can’t wait to see how our ideas and methods come together for this exclusive beer.”
Final beer to be decided on
The final beer is yet to be decided on, as ideas were still being discussed, Lees Jones said.
Cloudwater co-founder and managing director Paul Jones, said: “We’re excited to work with JW Lees to brew a bold, modern beer, seeking to make the best of both British brewing heritage and our forward thinking, flavour-first attitude.”
Manchester Beer Week, meanwhile, is set to take place between 10 and 19 June. It will showcase the city’s rich brewing history and how upcoming modern breweries are growing Manchester’s beer landscape.
Organiser Connor Murphy said: “It’s exciting to bring two of the most respected breweries from each scene together to create something unique for Manchester Beer Week. The beer will be symbolic of Manchester’s journey and the spirit of collaboration that will be key to the industry’s continued growth in this city.”
