Crumbs Brewing’s newest beer, a Naan Laager brewed with wonky and unsold naan bread, has picked up a silver award at the London Beer Competition.
“The beer revolution has brought us many different styles, previously either unknown or re-found,” said Sid Patel, of event organiser Beverage Trade Network.
“Our judges have thoroughly enjoyed looking at and debating the many different entrants, looking at beers the way beer drinkers do. Yes, they professionally analyse the quality, but crucially make awards by adding appearance and value for money into the mix.”
Morgan Arnell, chief crumber at Crumbs Brewing, said: “With so many breweries opening up in the last few years, the market is intensely competitive and it is not enough to produce standard quality.
“Consumers expect to have something different, packaged attractively and, of course, great value for money, all of
which are judged by the London Beer Competition.
“That’s why we are so proud to win this award, because it shows that we are not just making novel beers with a food-waste-fighting purpose at their heart, but also making the types of beers that beer drinkers actually want to buy and enjoy, and that the industry wants to list.”
Over the last five years, Crumbs Brewing has made a name for itself brewing a range of beers using unsold loaves from its local bakery in Surrey. As well as helping to fight the growing problem of food waste (bread is the second most wasted food in UK households), it has always been motivated by a desire to ensure its unique ingredient adds to the quality and flavour of each brew.
Morgan added: “We’ve been exploring the idea of a light refreshing lager for some time. All our beers are very distinct from one another, and it was the obvious gap in our range. That kind of beer is always perfect with spicy food like a curry, so it made a lot of sense to explore using naan bread in the brew.
“The nigella seeds in the naan give the beer a deliciously refreshing, almost floral finish. We are so pleased with the outcome — and over the moon that the judges liked it, too. It cuts through spice beautifully and will be a real crowd pleaser.”
The Naan Laager is the first of many innovations in the plans for Crumbs Brewing after it completed an initial phase
of crowdfunding with Seedrs in February.
