Best of the Cotswolds
Stroud Brewery I Budding (4.5%) | Organic Pale Ale I Stroud
The BREWERY: Since being established in 2006 by Greg, the brewery has gone from strength to strength. Stroud Brewery is community focused and aims to bring people together with their great tasting Organic beer. They rebranded in September 2020 and have just launched their whole range in newly designed cans!
The BEER: Honey malt and biscuit on the nose with some gentle, fruity hops. Brewed with pale ale and wheat malts and topped with Amarillo hops. Bitterness grows on the palate and is balanced by gentle malt flavours - a well-rounded British ale and a true crowd pleaser.
Gloucester Brewery | Cascade (4.2%) | Best Bitter I Gloucester
The BREWERY: Founded in 2011 by Jared with his love of beer and creative brewing, Gloucester Brewery pride themselves on making sustainable beers that don’t just taste great, but make people feel great about drinking them too.
The BEER: This full-bodied beauty impresses with its floral notes and its subtle fruity and biscuity flavour. It has been can-conditioned, meaning there might be yeast remainders at the bottom. They add flavour but best to pour in one go and leave the final bit in there. We particularly enjoy the lingering finish on this one!
Hawkstone Lager I Premium Cotswolds Lager (4.8%) I Bourton-on-the-Water
The BREWERY: Hawkstone is the brainchild of the famous Jeremy Clarkson and Rick & Emma from Cotswolds Brew Co. Whilst the products are mostly remaining the same, they have aligned their brand with a local, historical landmark within the Cotswolds (the Hawk Stone, based near Chipping Norton); and the more obvious change is that they're now working with Jeremy and using spring barley from his local farm.
The BEER: Using the local water and letting it mature for 6 weeks to develop this unique flavour, Hawkstone’s flagship is a very clean and crisp lager. It’s got a smooth and slightly fruity taste - the ideal refreshment for a meal out in the sun!
North Cotswold Brewery | Shagweaver (4.5%) | Golden Ale I Shipston-on-Stour (Vegan)
The BREWERY: A great family-run brewery established in 1999 and located only a few miles from Shipston on Stour, a town historically known for its sheep markets - this brewery epitomises the Cotswolds and brews a range of tasty traditional ales.
The BEER: A true great, winning award after award, this beer is brewed with a blend of three New Zealand hops and possesses a fascinating fruity toffee aroma. Being a little more traditional than the others, this should be enjoyed at 10-14°C.
Gloucester | Session IPA | Session IPA (4.5%) | (Vegan + Not Gluten Free)
The BREWERY: At Gloucester Brewery, they craft beer that aligns with their sustainability-focused values. They're dedicated to eco-friendly brewing, using only the finest ingredients, and have pledged to achieve carbon neutrality. Enjoy a taste that's good for you and the planet - you've earned it!
The BEER: A national award-winning IPA, known for its huge burst of tropical fruit aromas. This ultra-pale, unfined session IPA is incredibly easy to enjoy. It pours hazy, promising a well-rounded, unfiltered, unforgettable experience.
Hook Norton | Cotswolds Pale | Golden Ale (4.4%) | (Not Vegan + Not Gluten Free)
The BREWERY: Nestled in the Cotswold Hills, Hook Norton is a proud, independent family brewery. Combining tradition with a modern approach, they craft a range of real ales and Ciders. Fun Fact - as one of 32 family-owned breweries, they offer not just award-winning beers but a long family heritage of excellence and innovation.
The BEER: A pale gold beer with a subtle fruitiness. It marries bold bitterness with a gentle sweetness. The aroma is a burst of crisp citrus. Light and fruity on the palate, with a refreshing lemony zest. While typically served in kegs, we've managed to bag oursleves some canned produce. Cheers to an iconic Cotswolds beer!
Battledown Brewery | Tipster (4.3%) | IPA I Cheltenham
The BREWERY: One of Cheltenham’s oldest working breweries and a true family affair. Father and founder Roland started the brewery 15 years ago, and now works alongside his children to make great tasting beer using fresh water from the Cotswold hills above their brewery.
The BEER: Unfined and unfiltered, a sessionable, hoppy pale ale bursting with citrus aromas and pleasant malty taste courtesy of Cara Aroma malts. Tipster pays tribute to Cheltenham racecourse, home of the Gold Cup!
Goffs Brewery I Black Knight (5.3%) I Porter I Winchcombe (Vegan)
The BREWERY: The guys at Goffs have been supplying great beer for more than 25 years now and have found a great balance between brewing craft beer and the more traditional ales. They source most of their ingredients locally - cheers to that!
The BEER: To wrap up this selection, a dark ruby porter - the ideal beer for the colder months. overall a very smooth and pleasantly hopped beer with the chocolate malt aromas standing out. Unique hints of vanilla in the aftertaste are very enjoyable. This one should be enjoyed at 10-14°c - a little warmer than the others!
