Hops growing in the Market Hall
Borough Market’s new limited edition seasonal beer will be an Earl Grey Saison, brewed with fresh English hops grown in the iconic Market Hall, with Earl Grey tea from market trader, Organic Life.
Beers created from fresh hops can only be made once a year, making them one of the world’s most sought-after seasonal products. The 5.2% ABV brew will be available from Borough Market and independent retailers across the UK.
The only beer in the UK to boast a genuine sense of Central London ‘terroir’, the Borough Market Earl Grey Saison, curated by expert nomadic brewer Daniel Tapper, of The Beak Brewery, has been created to reflect the market’s unique position at the heart of the capital.
To underline the 1,000-year-old market’s commitment to provenance, the saison is brewed using the classic English hop variety Fuggles, historically grown by farmers in the South East. The hop bines are planted in the heart of Borough Market’s glass-fronted Market Hall, and sustainably fertilised with a combination of recycled coffee grounds from traders, and rainwater harvested from the market’s roof.
To give a unique twist, the beer has also been ‘cold brewed’ with more than 5kg of high-quality loose-leaf Earl Grey tea. This special blend is sourced from Sri Lanka by Borough Marker trader Organic Life and is infused with lemon and lime peel, giving the beer a distinctive citrusy tang.
The new beer is the third annual brew from Borough Market’s own hops, and has been produced in collaboration with Partizan Brewing, close by in Bermondsey, South East London.
Keeping the brewing process local
Most hops used in the beer industry are kiln dried within 24 hours to preserve them. By keeping the brewing process local, Borough Market could deliver the hops in their wet, fresh state within hours of harvesting, contributing to the beer’s authentic flavour.
A limited run of more than 6,000 bottles has been produced, and will be available from Borough Market and distributed by Partizan to independent retailers throughout the UK, priced at £3.30. The Borough Market Earl Grey Saison will also be exclusively available on draught in the market from The Globe Tavern.
Darren Henaghan, managing director of Borough Market, said: “Borough Market is the curator of a diverse range of the best quality national and international produce — a place to discover the unique and rediscover the familiar.
“What better way to celebrate our position at the heart of London than with a seasonal beer grown with our own hops, flavoured with one of our expert trader’s tea, and fertilised with leftover coffee grounds! In effect, it’s essence of Borough Market in a glass. We hope our customers will enjoy raising a toast!”
Brewer Daniel Tapper said: “As both a brewer and a food writer, it has been an absolute honour to create a beer that not only displays genuine London terroir, but also showcases Borough Market’s unique position at the heart of our country’s food and drink scene.
“One of the best things about being a nomadic brewer is getting the opportunity to produce beers at some of the UK’s most exciting, forward-thinking breweries — and when it comes to making fresh, flavourful saisons, few breweries are more respected than Partizan.”
