Two historic family breweries — Arkell’s and Donnington — have collaborated on a 4% ABV cask lager called Donkels.
The brewing teams who worked together on the beer
The brew team from Arkell’s Brewery in Swindon visited the team at Donnington Brewery, in Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire, where they utilised the renowned spring water to mill, mash, and boil the beer.
The spring water (‘liquor’, in brewing terms) is drawn from the spring beside the mill pond and is known for giving Donnington beers a signature taste. The unfermented brew was then transported to Arkell’s Brewery, where it underwent fermentation using specialist lager tanks with house lager yeast.
Donkels is a nod to the German dunkel style and a play on the breweries’ names. The beer is characterised by its light, refreshing, and crisp profile, its sweetness, and its depth of flavour, all complemented by a soft condition from natural cask carbonation rather than forced carbonation from CO2.
“We’re excited to bring this new cask lager to customers,” said Alex Arkell, head brewer at Arkell’s. “The collaboration with Donnington has allowed us to explore a new flavour brew while honouring our rich histories. Joining together with not only a fellow independent family brewer, but my brother, has been wonderful.
“The combined expertise of Arkell’s and Donnington, boasting a collective 340 years of brewing heritage, has produced a beer that is both traditional and innovative. Mixing an ale malt with a lager yeast has created a hybrid that my brother John and I are extremely proud of.”
John Arkell, of Donnington Brewery, added: “This collaboration has been a remarkable journey for both of our breweries. It has allowed us to blend our rich brewing traditions and create a beer that is truly unique.
“The Donkels cask lager is a testament to what can be achieved when two historic breweries come together with a shared vision. We’re excited for beer lovers to experience this blend of classic and contemporary brewing techniques.”
The new brew is a seasonal special and will be available at participating venues in August.
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