Inspired by International Women’s Day, a restaurateur and a brewer have teamed up to create a limited edition double-dry-hopped IPA, Disrupting Stereotypes.
The beer is the work of Nicola Tickle, co-owner of Michelin-starred Heft, in Newton in Cartmel, and Michelle Gay co-founder of Lakes Brew Co, in Kendal.
It is set to be the first of a series of beer collaborations between the teams at Heft and Lakes Brew Co. The beer has been inspired by Nicola and Michelle’s years of working in the hospitality industry and the many strong, independent women they’ve met and continue to meet, who have set out to break down barriers and lead the way in making the hospitality and brewing industries better places for everyone to work.
Due to be released at Easter, the 6.5% ABV IPA, made with Phantasm, Superdelic, Mosaic, and Galaxy hops, and a new yeast strain, delivers subtle juicy flavours and is bursting with tropical fruit and citrus notes.
Nicola, already a fan of Lakes Brew Co, started stocking its beers on seasonal rotation at Heft as soon as the doors opened in 2021. The relationship between the two businesses blossomed, and a collaboration was always going to be on the cards.
“Lakes Brew Co and Heft share a very similar ethos and outlook, with both being rooted in their surroundings,” said Nicola. “We particularly wanted to work with Lakes Brew Co as they’re at the forefront of the craft beer scene, and have been since they started the brewery in 2020, creating really different vibrant beers that everyone can enjoy.”
Michelle added: “We’re massively excited to work with Nicola and the Heft team. Between us, we’ve got some exciting ideas that we’ll look to develop in the coming months. Ideas that will hopefully make people sit up and take notice and hopefully at the same time show an entirely new beer drinking audience just how versatile and flavoursome beer can be.”
