The brewers get together at Pressure Drop Brewing, in Tottenham, North London
This year’s London Craft Beer Festival will feature an industry first — an all-female collaboration, limited edition craft beer called Rhubarb: A User’s Guide.
Led by brewing expert Jenn Merrick, 30 women, including both current brewers and students, gathered for just 24 hours to create this unique kettle sour, in a bid to celebrate female brewing’s past, present and future.
Described as a sherbet-flavoured, crisp, refreshing beer that’s ideal for the summer, it has been brewed with Yorkshire Pink Gold rhubarb juice, infused with fresh lemon thyme, hibiscus and rose petals, and dry hopped with Huell Melon.
Organised by We Are Beer, founders of London Craft Beer Festival, the kettle sour was hosted and brewed at Pressure Drop, by brewer Katie McCain. The all-female team comprised 20 brewers and 10 undergraduates and a lecturer from Heriot-Watt’s world-renowned MSc course in brewing and distilling.
The day, which was extremely hands-on, saw everybody throwing themselves into the experience: contributing to the recipe design, blending flavours, prepping ingredients, and pitching in with the mashing and the boiling.
Jenn, founder of community brewery, Earth Station, said: “It was such an inspiring day to see so many women who contribute to the craft beer industry all in one place, making a beer that drew on the skills of these industry leaders and connecting them with the next generation of brewers.”
Greg Wells, co-founder of We Are Beer, who commissioned the project, said: “This is an amazing summer beer that will be a fantastic addition to the London Craft Beer Festival, which will see our biggest line up of beer, food and music yet.
“The aim of this limited-edition beer is to celebrate the incredible female talent and influence on modern brewing by creating a collaborative beer with past, present and future female brewers from across the industry.”
Continuing with the all-female theme, illustrator Tara O’Brien was commissioned to produce the artwork design for the label. The craft beer will be available in 330ml bottles at 3.6% ABV.
Rhubarb: A User’s Guide will be available at London Craft Beer Festival, from August 3-5, at Tobacco Dock.
