Available from mid-September
After the last couple of years when we have had picking and brewing challenges to say the least we are delighted that this year our Fresh Hop ale will be back – picked and brewed on the same day to deliver a unique fresh flavour and one which change each year depending on the harvest.
It’s been a few years now since Ian, Bob, Ralph and the guys from the Sheringham Horticultural Society first planted Sheringham’s very own Moon Gazer ‘hop farm’.
The good news is that as the hops are becoming more established their bounty of flavour is becoming more plentiful.
In fact, despite the drought it is looking like a bumper harvest!
That said we still only have enough hops for one brew so it is a genuine limited edition, just 38 casks of beer.
Each year, we also take on the Bird’s Eye challenge to get the hops picked and in the brew within the hour – now you can’t get much fresher than that.
The result is a beer bursting with fresh flavours and showing the hops at their absolute maximum.
Just by way of a quick reminder as keen horticulturalists the Sheringham guys responded brilliantly to my rallying cry during a meet the brewer session to see if they could combine their hobby and a passion with bringing the community together and celebrating with a local ale.
They planted traditional British varieties of Goldings, Fuggles, Challenger and Cascade.
The Fuggles hop has established particularly well but in fairness all 4 varieties are doing well enough that the guys tell us plans are afoot to plant even more next year!
We do of course be use locally grown Maris Otter malt for the malt with a sprinkling of Crystal to give a light amber coloured bitter.
Norfolk water from the brewery’s well, Norfolk malt and home-grown Norfolk hops – this truly is to be a taste of North Norfolk.
On a sad note – this year’s beer will be in memory of Paddy, one of the original team of growers who sadly passed away – more of which when the beer is ready but for now – cheers Paddy this one is for you!