Trio of beers from Wild Card, Allsopp’s launches two classics

Wild Card teams up with clothing brand to release three beers

Craft brewer and taproom operator Wild Card Brewery has teamed up with clothing brand Lazy Oaf to launch a trio of beers.

The collection of Wild Card Brewery X Lazy Oaf collaborative beers come under the banner of Oaf Pub and comprise Lazy’s ‘Eye’ PA, Oaf Juice Berry Sour and Snifter Pale Ale with Lazy Oaf designing and producing the can labels, with a branded glass to match the collection.

The beers will be launched alongside Lazy Oaf’s 35-piece streetwear clothing range in two dates: 17 February and 24 February with on-trade orders being taken before the first release. The collection explores not only founder Gemma Shiel’s upbringing, but also iconic soap opera characters and classic pub snacks, with leopard print and crisp packet motifs appearing on the apparel. While the pieces each contain references to traditional British pub culture, the theme surrounding the collection centres on a reimagining of the pub through a modern, more inclusive lens.

Lazy’s ‘Eye’ PA (5.7% ABV) is said to be a bold, tropical New England IPA. To make it, the Wild Card – which was founded by William Harris, Andrew Birkby and Jaega Wise in 2012 in east London – used pale malt and copious amounts of oats to make an ultra-thick, juicy and creamy base. This was fermented using Wild Card’s in-house yeast blend, and dry-hopped with piney, tropical Cryo-Citra and the experimental hop X033. Sourced from Oregon hop producers Indie Hops, this variety matches the punchy tropics of the beer with laidback floral and grassy shades.

Oaf Juice (4.8% ABV) is the collection’s “berry juice-bomb”. Modelled on the German gose, it’s a sour, salted, wheat beer. To complement this flavour profile with acidity and sweetness, puréed raspberries and blackcurrants were added to a lager and wheat base. This gives the beer its tart quality and distinctive ruby-red hue. For sharper dimensions of flavour, we added hibiscus flower – one of head brewer Jaega’s favourite ingredients. 

To brew Snifter Pale Ale (4.2% ABV), the base was made from a blend of oat and pale malt. Hops were added at the end of the boil using the whirlpool method, pulling aromas from the hops whilst keeping bitterness low. To ferment the beer, a special yeast blend was chosen to introduce a high-gravity, sweet finish, and finally dry-hopped with Cashmere, Mosaic, Cryo-Loral and Cryo-Cascade, making for a pine-forward and tropical flavour profile, with a spicy-sweet backbone.

Allsopp’s to make up for 62-year absence with double launch

Historic Allsopp’s Brewery, which made its comeback last year after all but disappearing for 62 years, is reintroducing its Allsopp’s Pale Ale and India Pale Ale beers.

Originally founded in 1730, the brewery had a change of ownership in 1959, but after a long time in the wilderness, Jamie Allsopp – seven times great grandson of pioneering brewer Samuel Allsopp – is fulfilling a lifelong dream of restoring the ales that made his family’s name, to their former glory. With the help of Burton-style brewing expert Jim Appelbee, they have skilfully adapted some of the family’s original recipes to work for today’s ingredients, methods, and tastes.

Allsopp’s Pale Ale (4.4% ABV) is said to be balanced, golden-hued and “almost dangerously drinkable”, and was the beer that made the brewery’s name originally. The Allsopp’s contemporary take on an 18th century classic: crisp, sessionable and insatiably refreshing.

On the India Pale Ale variant, the business said Samuel Allsopp was one of the first to brew this now world-famous beer and legend has it, he brewed his very first batch in a teapot.

“Whatever the truth, from those humble beginnings Allsopp’s and India Pale Ale became synonymous, travelling all over the globe,” Allsopp’s said. “[We] invite you to savour a faithful recreation of the original Burton IPA – the complex, beguiling inspiration for one of the most popular and enduring beer styles, the calling card of the craft beer revolution.”

The tasting notes for the pale ale, which is available in cask and 500ml bottles, are: pale gold and bright, with light bready, cereal and citrus notes on the nose. On the palate, a perfect balance of juicy hops moreish biscuit body, with a dry finish that will have you reaching for another sip before you know it.

The IPA notes read: with the added benefit of better malt and hops than Samuel had at his disposal, this recreation is darker and clearer than most modern IPAs. Malt and hops combine on the nose to create notes of fresh hay, citrus and dark fruit, with a hint of caramel. On the palate it’s rich and rewarding, with grass and spicy notes playing off a light toffee-like base, before a dry, lingering finish. It is also available in cask (5% ABV) and 500ml bottles (5.6% ABV).

Cold as Ruck beer backing Scotland rugby

Edinburgh brewery Cold Town Beer is backing Scotland in the Six Nations with the creation of a limited-edition light pale ale, which will be available to selected bars in Scotland during the tournament and in 5-litre mini kegs.

Cold as Ruck is made from UK, US and German hops, which are said to give the ale a fruity character with a delicately floral top note.

The brewery said the patriotic ale has a full and creamy mouthfeel with a delicate and lasting sweetness. It has an ABV of 4.5% and is dairy-free plus vegan friendly.

Cold Town Beer head brewer Ed Evans said: “We’re huge rugby fans at Cold Town and know how much the Six Nations means to us and the country so we wanted to do something to celebrate our pride in Scotland. Cold as Ruck is the perfect beer to grab at the bar during the game, or if you’re watching at home our mini kegs are great to share with mates while cheering on our boys. We’re excited that so many Edinburgh bars will be pouring Cold as Ruck during the tournament and we look forward to raising a pint to Scotland’s victory.”

Cold as Ruck is available on tap at Cold Town House, the Black Bull, the Huxley, McLarens on the Corner, Badger & Co, the Queens Arms, Auld Hundred, Copper Blossom, the Basement, the Fountain and Element in Edinburgh; Church on the Hill, the Raven and the Smokin’ Fox in Glasgow; the Saint in St Andrews; and the Meadowpark in Bridge of Allan.

Indian spirit brand Sollasa targets hospitality sector

Indian spirit brand Sollasa is targeting the hospitality sector after hitting UK shores after sealing a deal with drinks distributor Ten Locks.

Sollasa burst on to the UK drinks scene in July 2021 and has caused much excitement with its unique proposition: it is claimed to be the first spirit designed specifically to complement Indian cuisine to be launched in the UK.

Sollasa is a grain-based, lower alcohol spirit, blended to 20% ABV. It’s made from natural ingredients, bringing together orange zest, lime, lychee, mint, basil, coriander seeds, cardamom, and a pinch of sea salt.

It was developed by Vishal Patel and his brother-in-law Sajag Patel, in collaboration with leading chefs, mixologists and food scientists, to address the opportunity to inspire consumers with a new drinks option to accompany Indian food. The pair’s mission was to create a drink that complements Indian cuisine’s complex flavours.

Ten Locks head of commercial Becky Davies said: “There’s a huge buzz in the industry about Sollasa – it’s such a unique product and the team has created an exciting solution to the long-standing drinks choice problem facing Indian food consumers, so we’re delighted to be appointed as distribution partner.  

“Indian cuisine is one of the UK’s favourites, and the number of restaurants and dining outlets offering Indian-influenced food continues to grow – especially within premium, fusion, and regional speciality venues.  

“Outside of this sector it stands up as an exciting alternative to gin at a lower ABV while being full of flavour. Sollasa is a credible and unusual, upmarket addition to back bars and cocktail menus.”

Sollasa is available in 70cl bottles with an RRP of £30.

Elephant Gin unveils lighter bottle

Elephant Gin has unveiled its 15% lighter bottle that will reduce the company’s carbon footprint by 60 tons every year.

The business is fast advancing towards a net-zero carbon emissions target having recently won the World’s Best Gin at the Spirits Business Gin Masters Award 2021.

Already recognised for its work with African elephant conservation, the team has carefully selected a glass manufacturer to produce its bottles as sustainably as possible, completely dispensing with plastic, reducing the bottle weight by 15% and using 65% waste glass.

Elephant Gin founders Tessa and Robin Gerlach were inspired to create their range of premium gins following their adventures in Africa and has more than €1million African elephant conservation.

Tessa said: “Climate neutrality can only be achieved by taking a common path, from the glass manufacturer to the beverage producer and right through to the consumer. Being sustainable is a shared responsibility. This is the key to reducing emissions and thus preventing global warming.”

Robin added: “We can therefore reach out to our customers and make Elephant Gin more consumption-friendly for them. A great start to the new year and another milestone towards B-Corp certification.”

Elephant London Dry Gin uses an innovative blend of 14 botanicals with rare African ingredients as well as fresh apples sourced from the orchards around the distillery.

The new 500ml bottles will be used across the Elephant Gin range from March 2022, which includes Elephant London Dry Gin (45% ABV), Elephant Sloe Gin (35% ABV), Elephant Strength Gin (57% ABV) and Elephant Orange Cocoa Gin (40% ABV).

Key stockists in the on-trade include Oriole, the Gibson, the Coral Room, Davies & Brooks, Dukes, the Dorchester, Mr Fogg’s, Amazonico, 5 Hertford Street, Hotel Café Royal, Quo Vadis, 45 Jermyn Street, Eve Bar and the Donovan Bar.

If you have any new products that are being released to the on-trade, email the details with high resolution images before Thursday at midday for potential inclusion on Friday’s article to tnel.yyblq@jeoz.pbz​​​​​​​​​​​. ​