Arkell’s Brewery has launched Jack’s Juicy IPA, a modern hop-forward beer created by brewing Operative Jack Bridgman as part of his brewing apprenticeship.
Jack Bridgeman with his new beer, Jack’s Juicy IPA
The beer was launched at The Moonrakers pub, in Swindon, where Arkell’s beer champions, from managed houses, and the chair of the Swindon and North Wiltshire CAMRA branch were among the first to sample it.
The 4.5% ABV session IPA is packed with tropical fruit flavours, showcasing a new hop variety, Krush, which has never been used at the brewery before.
Jack, who has been with Arkell’s since 2012, designed the beer this year as part of his apprenticeship, which covers every aspect of brewing , from raw materials and fermentation to recipe development.
Tasked by his university to create a beer from scratch, he meticulously calculated every detail, from malt sugar extraction to hop bitterness levels, ensuring the final product delivers a perfectly balanced, flavourful pint.
When designing his beer, Jack wanted to create a brew that fell into the bracket of New England IPA. Understanding that the key to these styles is a light malt base that allows hop flavours to shine, he selected a blend of Maris Otter, cara malt, and wheat malt. This combination provides enough body and mouthfeel without overpowering the hops.
‘A milestone achievement in a brewing journey’
“Designing this beer has been a huge learning experience,” said Jack. “I wanted something fresh, vibrant, and full of tropical fruit character, and Krush hops gave me exactly that.
“Once the recipe was complete, Alex Arkell and I reviewed it together and decided it would be perfect as one of Arkell’s special ales this year. Seeing it go from an idea on paper to a beer pouring in Arkell’s pubs is an amazing feeling.”
Head brewer Alex Arkell added: “We’re incredibly proud of Jack and the dedication he’s shown in creating this exciting beer as part of his brewing qualification. His knowledge, passion, and attention to detail shine through in Jack’s Juicy IPA, and this is a milestone achievement in Jack’s brewing journey.
“It’s set to be a superb flavour bomb — a fantastic, modern take on an IPA. We’re all really excited for our customers to try it.”
