There’s something in the water in Pembrokeshire and it’s helping to elevate Bluestone Brewing Co’s new range of craft beers.
Building on a tradition of making popular cask beers, brewer Tom Dunn has created a quartet of brews that comprises a hazy pale ale, a New England IPA, a wheat beer, and a Berliner Weisse. Available to the trade in can from today, what they all have in common is a delightful softness, thanks to the brewery’s spring water, which comes from its own borehole.
Self-sufficient in water, Bluestone — named after the famous Welsh stones which were transported to construct Stonehenge — is also one of the most sustainable brewers in the UK. In 2018 it became the first brewery in the world to be given Green Key accreditation. This is a leading standard for excellence in the field of environmental responsibility and sustainable operation within the tourism industry and is specific to Bluestone’s visitor centre. A move away from bottles to can, which are easier to recycle and transport, is also a step in the right green direction. Carbonation is a challenge when canning, but the beers seem well behaved and not too lively.
With the new beers, Tom is trying to emulate favourite beers from Verdant and DEYA, and is off to good start. My pick of the bunch — unusually for this hop-head when there’s a NEIPA in the line-up — was Pyjama Republic, a 4.5% ABV wheat beer. It has a fantastic banana aroma and that other great wheat signifier, cloves, adding some medicinal notes (in a good way!).
Pouring a Pyjama Republic, my pick of the new quartet
The other three new brews are:
Al Fresco (4.3% ABV): a hazy pale ale, designed to be enjoyed outdoors in the sunshine. A juicy, tropical, sessionable beer brewed using Verdant yeast and Simcoe, Centennial, and Citra hops.
Saint Croix (5.6% ABV): A hazy New England IPA packed full of Idaho 7, El Dorado, and Citra hops. Hazy in appearance and tropical in flavour, the beer has a soft mouthfeel and fruity aromas.
Engelberg (3.8% ABV): tart and refreshing, Engelberg is a Berliner Weisse with a dry finish. This thirst-quenching style was referred to by Napoleon’s troops in 1809 as ‘the Champagne of the North’ due to its lively and elegant character.
The trio will be joined by a new seasonal beer in July, The Sicilian, a 6.1% ABV lemon meringue IPA. Bright yellow and hazy, it will be full of tropical fruity flavours, with a subtle lemon aroma. Intensely hopped with Lemon Drop, Motueka, Citra, and Mosaic, it will contain Lactose.
