Norfolk’s Grain Brewery will be the first brewery to see its cask beer served the traditional English way in the Belgian city of Leuven, the home of Stella Artois.
Phil Halls, of Grain Brewery, ready to set off for Belgium with his cask beer handpull system.
Photograph: Leanne Rowe
Belgium is famous for its beer, but the method of ‘pulling pints’ is almost unique to our country, and remains a dark mystery to many — even the Belgians.
Grain Brewery, in Alburgh, will be heading to Leuven, along with three other Norfolk brewers, to serve its beer at the Innovation Beer Festival, on 20th and 21st May.
The Norfolk brewers’ attendance is all part of the twinning of the two great beer cities of Norwich and Leuven, inspired by beer writer Roger Protz, and turned into reality by Norwich City of Ale and the generosity of the Belgium tourism group, Visit Flanders.
“Elsewhere around the world, beer is served either just in bottles or cans, or colder and fizzier from a tank or keg,” said Phil Halls, of Grain Brewery. “Only in the UK do we go to the great effort of using ‘cask’, where we put the beer into stainless steel barrels, with yeast and sugar still present, allowing the beer to ‘condition’ over time through ongoing fermentation.
“This is what gives our beer its natural sparkle and frothy head. The pub then lets the beer settle for a few days in their cool cellar, when it is then ready to be pulled through a traditional handpump.”
Left: Grain Brewery brewer Grahame Read filling casks. Right: The Innovation Beer Festival poster.
Photographs: Phil Halls
Not only will Phil be delivering cask beer to Belgium, but he will also be taking a handpump to serve the beer in the traditional way, and to give the festival-goers the experience of an English pub.
As part of City of Ale and the city twinning, Grain Brewery has teamed up with Belgian brewery Braxatorium Parcensis, from the Park Abbey at Heverlee, near Leuven, and Brussels, to create a Belgian-inspired beer, Strangers No More, named in honour of the Flemish strangers who brought their textile skills and influence to Norwich in the 1600s.
Joris Brams, owner and brewer at Braxatorium Parcensis, has been fascinated by British cask beer since he worked in the UK for Scottish and Newcastle 20 years ago. He was intrigued by its production and specific taste, as well as its great history.
He said: “UK cask ales, typically weaker in alcohol than Belgian beers, and served warmer and without excessive foam, began to get my attention. The refermentation on the cask is new to Belgian brewers, as is the taste profile. I believe the cask taste and profile could have potential in Belgium once accepted as a craft beer style that stands its time.
“Today, consumers are more open to the discovery of new products, and cask ale definitely triggers this interest and is unique in our market.”
As well as being served at the Innovation Beer Festival, Strangers No More will also be available in Norwich pubs and the Grain Brewery taproom during the City of Ale festival, which runs from 25th May to 25th June.
