Taste: 5% abv English IPA, biscuit malt base. Pine, orange, cedar, lemon and blackcurrant notes.
Maris Otter malted barley is the stuff of legends among brewers and beer lovers.
This barley success story is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year – no mean feat when you consider most barley varieties last around 6-7 years before being superseded.
Maris Otter has survived to celebrate its 60th birthday thanks to its excellent brewing qualities.
Malting is, of course, key, but today, brewers, maltsters and farmers increasingly agree that the barley variety makes a big difference to beer even before it gets to the maltings. And for the people who know it best, it’s simple: malt made from Maris Otter produces better ale than that from other varieties.
We are also very proud that Maris Otter is so rooted in Norfolk – as the perfect growing region for it – and proud that it is in demand the world over by brewers in the know. Its kind off nice that beer lovers all over the world get to have a little sip of Norfolk!
We are also proud to be great friends with Mark and the team at H Banham, the grain merchants – near Fakenham – who are the custodians of this great barley variety and responsible for saving it!
So, as it celebrates its 60th birthday we are going to produce a series of special brews.
Starting off with an old school English IPA.
Our first commemorative brew will reflect the malty backbone in great beers and also the hops that would have been around back in the 1960s when Maris Otter was first grown.
We are also using floor malted barley again to reflect the processes commonly used back in the day – and we believe offer a little bit of extra character and flavour.
So, to a nice, biscuit malt base we are adding pine, orange, cedar, lemon and blackcurrant notes from Target and Bramling Cross.
Do look out for it and do raise a glass to Maris Otter, to H Banham and to all of the farmers who do so much for brewing!
Happy Birthday – and look out for more facts and updates as we brig in new brews.