BrewDog

[andyakameatloaf]

So I went up to Newcastle this weekend to see the missus and a couple of lads came up for a bit of a boozy weekend. Went to Cosmic ale festival at The Cluney to sample some space-themed beers (Dark Star Brewery, Moonshine by Abbeydale, etc) and listen to some folk and blues acts.

But the Corker was getting another visit to BrewDog Newcastle.
Finally managed to talk myself (after many beers...) into paying the £5 for a 25ml measure of Tactical Nuclear Penguin at 32% ABV.
It's certainly an interesting thing, although it's not really a "beer" I suppose. If anybody here has tried it you'll know what I mean. It's thick, has a rich, spirity smell and tastes very woody. I know that it's made from barley rather than fruit, but I would have to say it reminded me most in taste of brandy. You can weirdly still taste a definite "beery" taste as well though. It's perplexing, and also IMO delicious! Worth the fiver once for a try, I must say.

They had also rolled out their cocktail menus which contain a variety of beers, spirits and "hop syrups". Personal favourite was The Hop Bomb, which is basically a twist on a Mojito. Lemon and lime peel crushed with mixed ice, various fruit liqueurs, a couple of shots of their Hardcore IPA, Citra hop syrup and garnished with mint leaves.

perhaps a little OTT, and not something I would go down to my local for every week at £6.50 a glass, but to me brewing and enjoying ales is all about trying new things, and I would definitely recommend trying both.

 

[wigwamheed]

Have to agree with you on the tact nuclear penguin, when I tried it had to stop myself buying a bottle as a Christmas pressie to myself, though 50 quid was a bit pricey!!!! Haven't been to the cluney in years do they still do the massive homemade burgers?

 

[Brewtrog]

First time I tried TNP I got it for free at a brewdog taster night at The York Tap, along with a few others (including paradox Jura). Then ended up buying a couple of bottles of it, one as a present, and the second half and half with my room mate (which reminds me, I still need to get what's left of my half). I agree, it's a bit odd at first, but has a wonderful taste.
I once paid £7.50 for a measure of start the future (a 60% beer) - it was awful, had no beer flavour left, just tasted like really cheap flavourless whiskey.

 

[WelshPaul]

I remember when they opened the Brewdog pub in Camden in London not so long ago. It was full of hipsters in retro cartoon character t-shirts and the beers were £5 for one-third of a pint.
We had one and left for the Bree Louise which serves equally good cask ales for £2.90 a pint.

 

[Maceio]

Plus one for the Bree Louise. I found this pub last time I was in London. Amazing pub, fantastic range of ales (maybe 20?) and all reasonalbly priced.

Oh how I long to go back.

 

[andyakameatloaf]

Don't know about the burgers, it was in The Cluney 2, so it was downstairs in the venue bit.
Yeah I was worried TNP would taste awful. I'll be sure to give start the future a miss if I ever come across it!

And Paul, I find you do get bars like that swimming with hipsters. The general mindset of them seems to be that if it's expensive it must be good, though you're right. I've had equally good cask ales for much less money. Although BrewDog do make some of my favourite beers, I tried two of the new IPA is dead range (same base malt profile, but each 1 of 4 is then hopped using a different single strain of hops) and Dana was awful. Tasted like someone had dropped bisto in it.

Whereabouts in London is the Bree Louise?

 

[bunkerbrewer]

Whereabouts in London is the Bree Louise?

Just round the side of Euston Station (not the Eversholt St side) - I've only been once but it was good :thumb:

If you're in the area the Euston Tap is good too.

 

[andyakameatloaf]

Whereabouts in London is the Bree Louise?

Just round the side of Euston Station (not the Eversholt St side) - I've only been once but it was good :thumb:

If you're in the area the Euston Tap is good too.

the girlfriend's brother lives in New Cross area. If we get a chance to go visit I'll have to check this out, cheers!

 

[WelshPaul]

And Paul, I find you do get bars like that swimming with hipsters. The general mindset of them seems to be that if it's expensive it must be good

Aye, just chuck the word "artisan" in the description somewhere and add an extra 50% to the price!

 

[Megaross]

It is bloody impressive the yields they get, that's some serious yeast.

Definitely going to have to pay them a visit, I love their beers, never had tactical nuclear penguin though.

 

[mojonojo]

It is bloody impressive the yields they get, that's some serious yeast.

some serious freezing more like- there produced like eisebocks

http://www.germanbeerinstitute.com/Eisbock.html

 

[Megaross]

You learn something new every day :

 

[calumscott]

Yup, TNP, Sink The Bismarck and End Of History aren't just brewed. They use a process which we're not to discuss here, lest I have to get all thread-locky... :thumb:

Ghost Deer is the strongest fermented beer ever produced at a staggering 28%. Apparently it needs multiple fermentations with multiple strains of yeast all of which have to be in tip top condition.

At some point, I'm going to try and do a mini BIAB thing to try and get close...

 

[rpt]

The process they use does not require a special licence, because it is still regarded as beer and not a spirit. It isn't distilled.

 

[calumscott]

It is, and they do.

Read the alcohol and liquor duties act. Any form of making it stronger by any means is covered and needs a licence. Which you won't get as a home brewer, thereby making it illegal.

 

[calumscott]

It is, and they do.

Read the alcohol and liquor duties act. Any form of making it stronger by any means is covered and needs a licence. Which you won't get as a home brewer, thereby making it illegal.

For the avoidance of doubt:

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1979/4/section/12

ALDA, Part II, section 12

 

[Brewtrog]

Yeah, the law is that it is illegal to separate alcohol by distillation or any other means. The offence is in the separation/concentration of alcohol.

 

[rpt]

But that section says it is illegal to manufacture spirits. Section 1(2)(a) defines spirits as "spirits of any description which are of a strength exceeding 1.2 per cent" which is not very helpful as it defines spirits as spirits. Section 1(3) says “Beer includes ale, porter, stout and any other description of beer, and any liquor which is made or sold as a description of beer ...". So making strong beer does not come under section 12. Distilling beer does because that is making whisky which is a spirit.

There was a thread on Jim's where someone emailed Brewdog and they confirmed that they did not have, or need, a licence to make their extra strong beers because they aren't distilled.

 

[calumscott]

Beer is "any liquor". There is a definition somewhere of what is and isn't liquor. I believe liquor to be the direct unmodified result of fermentation, I read it somewhere but can't lay my hands on it at the moment, I'll dig it out over the weekend.

Anyway, beer is, but as soon as you modify it with such a process it becomes spirits. HMRC certainly have it classified as such:

5.2 What are the "classes of spirits"?
These are divided into 8 categories. The numbers listed below are those used on form W21 Quarterly Distillery Return - declaration of materials used and spirits produced.

1. Malt spirits, that is malt whisk(e)y

2. Grain spirits

3. Neutral spirits of agricultural origin

4. Neutral spirits of non-agricultural origin

5. Spirits produced from beer

6. Spirits produced from wine or made-wine

7. Spirits produced from cider or perry

8. Other.

 

[Megaross]

I think the real issue is what is legally defined as a spirit, there is clearly vagueness in the statutes and it would be a judgement call. As my old law professor used to say "The law is the law because some judge says so" when it comes to ambiguity - depends how it's called at the time.

I certainly have never come across a legal definition of spirit (except for the one up there which is useless) but it is commonly referred to in legislation as "distillates" or "distilled spirit" whether there is ambiguity in this with regards to other methods of producing high alcohol beverages or adding to the alcoholic content through other methods I don't know - possibly an oversight when producing current legislation surrounding spirits.

Using a spirit classification from a form entitled "distillery return" the method of production referred to is likely going to be distillation.

I can see merit to both arguments however when discussing sensitive legal matters it's always best to play it safe and just avoid if you are unsure.