Driftwood Spars Brewery has launched a kegged and canned range of beers, under Cove branding, starting with a zesty pale, as it targets growth in a new market.
The Cornish brewery is well known for its award-winning classic cask styles, but now it is vernturing into new territory, with new brewer Mike Mason at the helm.
Mike said: “Approachable and enjoyable until the very last sip, we’ve poured all our experience of brewing (and drinking!) many styles of beer from across the world into this exciting project.
“The Cove series takes inspiration from the best of these styles and adds a Cornish twist. Expect zesty, sessionable pale ales, silky smooth milk stouts, funky saisons and — coming soon — an IPA set to become a future classic.”
The first beer in the Cove series, Beacon Pale Ale, is initially available via the brewery shop, website, and local bottle shops, such as the Red Elephant Beer Cellar, in Truro.
Described as a “well-balanced pale ale brimming with fresh, zesty tropical fruit”, Beacon is inspired by hazy summer days on St Agnes Beacon where, from a soft carpet of sea thrift, you can see 30 miles out to sea.
Beacon will shortly be followed by Seaberry Saison, a Cornish take on a Belgian classic, with rustic, fruity farmhouse flavours, and a citrus kick. Midnight Skinny Dipper, a smooth and rich milk stout, will be released in the autumn, with a classic IPA due to follow next year.
The inspiration may be global — from the craft breweries of the US and the Antipodes, to the farmhouse beers of France and Belgium — but many of the ingredients used in the brewing process are locally sourced. For example, the recipe for Seaberry incorporates Sea Buckthorn berries which grow on the coast around St Agnes, and Mike is currently experimenting with local gorse flowers for use in Midnight Skinny Dipper.
Mike said: “As well as these hyper-local ingredients, we’ve also tapped into the evolving varieties of New World style hops now being grown in England, combining them with the finest British malts to create a range which balances tradition with innovation, complexity with drinkability.”
As with all beers from The Driftwood Spars Brewery, those in the Cove range will be certified gluten free and, where possible, will also be vegan.
Local artist Jago Silver has designed the artwork for the range, which is inspired by the brewery’s deep Cornish roots and the bountiful connections with nature and outdoor life this little corner of the world affords its inhabitants.
