Organic brewery Futtle has partnered with the Rufflets Hotel, St Andrews, to produce an organic pale ale using fresh hops grown in Rufflets’ kitchen garden. The beer is due to be released today.
Stephen Marshall, of Futtle, joins Rufflets head gardener, Logie Cassells, picking the hops back in September
It’s thought to be the first time organically-grown Scottish hops have been used fresh and brewed into a fully organic Scottish beer.
Founded in 2020 by Lucy Hine and Stephen Marshall, Futtle, in the East Neuk of Fife, produces a range of organic beers in a converted stable block on the Bowhouse food hub.
Taking inspiration from the rustic European beer styles they love, the couple recently installed a specially-commissioned copper coolship in the rafters of the brewery, in order to fulfil their dream of making spontaneously-fermented beer.
Head gardener at Rufflets, Logie Cassells, grew seven different varieties of hops in the hotel’s kitchen garden, using organic methods. The hops were harvested by Logie, Lucy, and Stephen on 21st September, 2022, and were used to brew with on the same day.
“Although customary across hop-growing counties like Kent and Norfolk, the tradition of using fresh local hops on the same day that they are harvested is certainly not something we’re used to seeing in Scotland,” said Lucy.
“And we believe this is the first time where the hops have been grown organically and brewed into a fully organic beer. We were delighted to collaborate with the whole Rufflets’ team and look forward to making this an annual Fife tradition, to rival the English hop counties’ celebrations, putting Scottish hops on the map!”
Marco Truffelli, partner and managing director at Rufflets, added: “We are what we eat and drink, and what we eat and drink comes from our lands. We at Rufflets passionately believe it is our responsibility to play a part in sustainable agriculture. Our partnership with Futtle gives us the opportunity to celebrate our micro-farming efforts.
“The next crop is already growing in Rufflets’ kitchen garden and we plan for this collaboration to continue and to expand year on year. Four thousand cans have been produced this year and they will be available to enjoy in the beautiful surroundings of Rufflets from next week.”
Futtle brewery is based at Bowhouse, on Balcaskie estate in the East Neuk of Fife. Bowhouse opened as a makers’ hub for local food and drink producers in 2017, working to provide the missing link between farm and fork for producer and consumer. Its Market Weekends take place monthly, but Bowhouse is also home to a growing number of independent artisan producers, who sell direct to the public.
