Thornbridge expands
I don't normally regurgitate press releases on this blog, but Thornbridge is a brewery I lurve unreservedly. Jaipur IPA is one of this country's finest beers (here's my review from 2007). The team there have the down-to-earth enthusiasm that's almost universal among British microbrewers, yet they've also got the marketing savvy that's woefully uncommon among their peers. After four years at their start-up site, they've moved to a larger brewery in Bakewell (home of the tart, one would presume). It's got three times the capacity of their old kit. Here's a photo:
I'll say this, though: such a fine brewery deserves a shop window in London. Just as St Peter's have improved their standing immeasurably via The Jerusalem Tavern, Thornbridge could step things up by opening a pub in the capital. If only there was a young and ambitious pub entrepreneur in situ that they could team up with. That would be sweet.
13 comments:
I want one
Apparently the correct term (according to local residents) is Bakewell Pudding, rather than the Mr Kipling-influenced Tart.
A Thornbridge house in London - now that really would be something. The rumours of an Oakham pub opening in Kennington have gone a bit quiet. Do you know any more about this Jeff?
Puddings are puff-pastry with a custard-like splurge; tarts are shortcrust pastry with almond sponge.
And as for the new kit - can't wait to have a go on it when I brew there in July ;-)
Bakewell Pudding is the real deal, and quite different to Mr Kipling's tart (which I admit I also have a fondness for). Pudding uses puff pastry and has no icing (or cherry for that matter), just a delicious buttery egg and almond filling.
Agree wholeheartedly about Thornbridge. More power to their elbow. Micros the country over could learn so much from them in terms of marketing. If nothing else, about not putting embarrassing goblin / semi-naked swords-and-sorcery women on the pump clips or using idiotic pun-laden names.
It's not just their IPA, all their beers are outstanding. I found them in the Rutland Arms in Bakewell a year or two ago. Big empty hotel, full of noisy clocks, and staff like rejects from the Rocky Horror Picture Show. But then I discovered the Jaipur and the rest.For that, I can forgive the 60+ year old wiatress with the microskirt.
A Thornbridge tied pub in London would be brilliant. Jaipur is superb, one of the best cask pints you can get in England.
As for your last comments... Is that a hint to your next venture or a hopeful carrot-on-a-stick dangled in the hope that Thornbridge bite?!
@ coach_mcguirk - presumably you're including Marston's and their 'Hobgoblin' shite in that advice?
On the subject, I came across (no pun intended) a beer called 'ffiagra' the other day with a saucy tart (possibly pudding) on the clip - embarrassed to admit I tried it and it was awful - a week old egg sandwich would have stunk less.
Home of the tart? Surely that's Tyneside...
Mark, it's certainly not a hint as to some planned venture, although it might be, as you suggest, a dangler of sorts.
what a fabulous idea. I'd drink there several times a month and bring my friends.
Jeff, I just rang Thornbridge to reserve myself a mini keg of their entire range. A mate of mine is picking them up for me later from a nearbye pub in Dronfield. Thormbridge reckon they will start keg deliveries to London this August when production has been increased. I reckon get in there quick!
I wish some British IPAs were available in Japan - we only seem to get the American imports.
Homebrew Japan
http://homebrewjapan.wordpress.com/
We visited Thornbridge last week and brought some mini casks back home to Belgium with us.
We had the opportunity to visit the new brewery in Bakewell where they'd just started to install the material.
Both the old brewery (and its setting in the grounds of the Hall) and the new brewery are incredibly impressive.
Everyone was extremely generous with their time and all beers were truly outstanding.
We had visited the Coach & Horses in Dronfield just the day before with 5 Thornbridge casks on (Jaipur, Kipling, Wild Swan, Lord Marples and CocoaDance).
Fenomenal stuff...
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