Suffolk-based Adnams has collaborated with US craft beer legends Sierra Nevada to create Eastern Edge, a transatlantic pale ale.
The launch marks Adnams’ 150th anniversary and celebrates the role of the global beer community in Adnams’ long brewing history. The beer will be available from 25th April.
Eastern Edge (4.8 % ABV) is named to reflect the influential vistas that dominate each brewery’s hometown. Adnams looks across the sea from the English east coast, and Sierra Nevada towards the Sierra Nevada mountains to the east.
The collaboration was inspired by two key beers — Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and Adnams’ cask Southwold Bitter. Sierra Nevada’s yeast made the journey to Suffolk, to be used to brew Eastern Edge, along with Adnams’ house yeast.
UK and US varieties of Cascade and Chinook hops were selected for their delicate floral and resinous aromas, and tropical flavours of grapefruit, lychee, and pineapple. Rye, pale ale, and Cara malts provide a spicy biscuit balance.
Provenance of ingredients is integral to both breweries, and Adnams champions locally-grown grain in all its beers. The rye is sourced only a few miles down the road, grown by Adnams chairman, Jonathan Adnams, at his farm in Reydon.
Dan Gooderham, Adnams’ head brewer, said: “Adnams house yeast, which has been used since the 1920s, and Sierra Nevada’s ‘Chico’ yeast, have given the breweries their distinct flavours for many years, so we thought that it would be interesting to have the yeasts work in tandem, for a true collaboration.
“American hops are such an essential component for Sierra Nevada’s Pale Ale, so we decided to source some UK-grown hops of the same variety to add even more depth of flavour to Eastern Edge.
“The provenance of hops has a huge influence on their characteristics and the flavour and aroma expressed, much like wine and the ‘terroir’. All this combined is what gives Eastern Edge its unique taste.”
Fergus Fitzgerald, Adnams’ production director, added: “I think we see lots of similarities between our two breweries. Sierra, like us, values independence. It is not easy to achieve and even harder to maintain for as long as we have.
“Like us, it’s very aware of its sense of place. Sierra has a connection to its environment and the desire to balance its protection with progress. Sustainability has been a key focus for the Sierra team — that similar outlook is always something we look for when partnering up, and we’re delighted we could make this happen to celebrate our 150th year.”
Steve Grossman, brewery ambassador at Sierra Nevada, said: “Finding like-minded brewers, sharing stories, and collaborating on a new beer recipe over a pint or two — it’s truly one of the most unique and amazing things about the craft beer industry.
“Being invited by Adnams to collaborate on a brew to help commemorate its 150th anniversary was sincerely a great honour. Hopefully, the good folks of Adnams will celebrate with Sierra Nevada when our brewery marks its 150th anniversary!”
