Liverpool Craft Beer Brewery Tour

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Hello beer lovers!

I lead a fantastic Liverpool craft beer brewery tour this Saturday. The sun was shining, the great beers were flowing and a fantastic time was had by all.

Below is a look at the venues we visited and the beers we got to try.

There are tours running throughout the summer and beyond, so grab a ticket now to join in the fun!

Venue 1: The Ship & Mitre

The Drop Project – Shifty – DDH IPA 5.2%

Salt Beer Factory – Suede – Stout – 4.8%

The Ship & Mitre is a traditional pub with an impressive selection of beers on tap, including some of the best cask ales in town. We tried The Drop Project’s Shifty, a delicious double dry-hopped IPA with a fruity aroma, and Salt Beer Factory’s Suede, a rich and smooth stout with notes of coffee and chocolate. A great start to our craft beer tour in Liverpool. We discussed beer ingredients and the beer-making process ahead of our brewery visits later on!

Venue 2: Denbigh Castle

Ossett Brewery – Voodoo – Chocolate Orange Stout – 5.0% OR

Chapter Brewing – Bread Circuses – Pale Ale – 3.8%

Denbigh Castle is a cosy local pub that serves great beers with great service to boot. This is a wonderful pit stop on our Liverpool Craft Beer Brewery Tour. Here the guests had a choice of Ossett Brewery’s Voodoo, a chocolate orange stout with a velvety mouthfeel, and Chapter Brewing’s Bread Circuses, a light and refreshing pale ale with a subtle hoppy bitterness.

Venue 3: Carnival Brewing Co.

Carmen – Mosaic – American Pale Ale – 4%

Great Balls of Fire – Fireball Whiskey Sour Ale – 4.8%

Curtains 2022 – Coconut Imperial Stout – 11%

Carnival Brewing Co. is a microbrewery and taproom that specializes in small-batch beers. Here, we tasted Carmen, an American pale ale with tropical fruit notes and a refreshing finish, Great Balls of Fire, a Fireball whiskey sour ale with a spicy kick, and Curtains 2022, a decadent coconut imperial stout with a silky smooth texture.

Venue 4: Azvex Brewing Co.

Electronic Butterfly- New England Pale Ale – 4%

Zombie Squirrel – Hazelnut & Coffee Porter – 5.4%

Age Of Annihilation – Imperial Smoothie Sour – 10%

Azvex Brewing Co. is a small brewery that produces experimental and unique beers. Here, we tried Electronic Butterfly, a juicy New England pale ale with a hazy appearance and a citrusy aroma, Zombie Squirrel, a hazelnut and coffee porter with a nutty flavour and a smooth finish, and Age Of Annihilation, an imperial smoothie sour with a tart and fruity taste.

All the guests had a fantastic tour of Liverpool’s Craft Beers and Breweries. I can’t wait to do it all again in June.

If you can’t wait that long, don’t forget to check out our tours and tastings for the #BeerTogether project during Eurovision in May.  The breweries from Liverpool and Ukraine celebrate the spirit of unity through beer. You can find more information here: https://www.ramblingbeerco.com/beertogether/

To join our growing community of beer lovers, please join our mailing list, or follow us on social media.

We look forward to seeing you again soon!

Cheers! 🍻

Strawberry Fields is #BeerTogether for Eurovision 2023

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With Eurovision 2023 just around the corner, we’re excited to dive deep into the world of brewing and talk to the experts behind Strawberry Fields Brewery. With over 35 years of experience in the brewing industry, Director and Head Brewer Paul Jefferies, along with his business partner Gordon Hurst, have made a name for themselves by producing high-quality traditional cask ales using time-honoured methods blended with modern trends and production techniques. In this interview, we’ll explore the history, ethos, and accomplishments of Strawberry Fields Brewery, and discover who they would love to share a pint with and what #Beertogether means to them.

Q: Tell us about your brewery and how it started.

 Strawberry Fields Brewery is a trading name of Big Bog Brewing Company Limited, which started life in Waunfawr near Caernarfon, Wales in 2011. But in 2016, we decided that we needed to move to larger premises to keep up with demand and to enable us to expand into Merseyside and beyond. In 2019 Strawberry Fields Brewery was established to represent the area we are now based in South Liverpool. A series of Beatle-inspired beers followed and the brewery has gone from strength to strength with both Big Bog & Strawberry Fields beers being brewed onsite.

Strawberry Fields Brewery is made up of the Director and Head Brewer, Paul Jefferies and his business partner, Gordon Hurst plus Brewery Manager, Chris Riley and Distribution and Production Operative Rich Midgley who is their newest member of staff. Paul has over 35 years of experience in the brewing industry and is qualified as a Master Brewer from the Institute of Brewing and Distilling. At present, Big Bog/Strawberry Fields beers are brewed three/four times a week, seven days a week. Paul also currently works full-time at Hydes Brewery based in Salford, as their Production Director.

Q: Describe the ethos of your brewery and what it stands for

 We aim to produce the best quality traditional cask ales using time-honoured traditional methods – blended together with modern trends, ingredients and production methods.

Q: What is your proudest accomplishment as a brewery to date?

Our Awards:

QUAGMIRE awarded GOLD 2023, Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) Champion Beer Of Britain (CBOB) Regional Bitters. SILVER 2015, International Beer Awards, BRONZE 2022, Society of Independent Brewers Alliance (SIBA) Regional Cask British Best Bitter (4.5% to 6.4%).

PEAT BOG PORTER was awarded OVERALL CHAMPION OF THE CASK BEER COMPETITION 2022, GOLD 2022, SILVER 2019, SIBA (Regional Cask British Dark Beers (4.5% to 6.4%).

HINKYPUNK awarded SILVER 2022, SILVER 2021 & GOLD 2019, SIBA Regional Cask Session Pale Ale (up to 4.4%).

STOG awarded GOLD 2022 & SILVER 2021 SIBA Regional Cask British Dark Beers (up to 4.4%).

PADI awarded SILVER 2022 & BRONZE 2019, SIBA Regional Cask Speciality Light Beers.

KALEIDOSCOPE awarded BRONZE 2022, SIBA Regional Cask Pale Ale.

Q: If  Strawberry Fields Brewery could #beertogether with any musician who would it be and why?

There would be no Strawberry Fields Brewery if it were not for the Beatles so a #BeerTogether with Paul McCartney would be perfect!

Q: What does #Beertogether mean to you?

Bringing together like-minded individuals who share a passion for brewing top-quality beers. By working together as one we can show solidarity in the face of adversity.  It’s been great to produce a product that everyone can enjoy, and that represents both the nations hosting Eurovision 2023

To try “Pink Boots & Sunflowers” along with the other 7 beers brewed as part of the #BeerTogether project, get your tickets to one of our tours or tastings taking place in Liverpool during the Eurovision 2023 festivities in May:  Ticket Link

Beer Tours and Tastings During Eurovision – Join Us & #BeerTogether for a Good Cause!

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I’m excited to announce that here at The Rambling Beer Co., we’ve decided to donate a portion of the proceeds from our upcoming #BeerTogether beer tours and tastings during Eurovision to Animal Aid Budapest.

Animal Aid Budapest is a charity that provides much-needed support to the pets of Ukrainian refugees, including food and veterinary treatment, to ensure they receive the care and attention they need during this challenging time.

Our Marketing Manager, Carlin, had the opportunity to volunteer with Animal Aid Budapest in 2022 and saw firsthand the vital work they do. By the end of 2022, the charity had helped over 5,000 animals that had been subjected to the trauma of war and displacement.

Many of these animals come to Animal Aid Budapest with their owners, having survived missile attacks and travelled for days without proper care or nourishment. The charity provides them with essential supplies, including food, carriers, leashes, collars, and muzzles. In addition, they arrange for necessary medical care such as rabies vaccinations, microchipping, titer testing, and other documents required for travel.

As part of their ongoing work, Animal Aid Budapest supports around 100-120 animals each month whilst their owners become financially stable enough to look after their beloved pets themselves.

We believe it’s essential to give back to the community and support important causes like Animal Aid Budapest. That’s why we’re inviting you to join us in making a difference!

Let’s #BeerTogether, have fun, and make a positive impact on the lives of others. We encourage you to join us and support this essential cause. Together, we can make a difference!

Tickets are available now for our one-hour beer tasting or our walking tour of Liverpool’s craft beer breweries. You can check out our blog post here for more information about our Beer Tours and Tastings During Eurovision.

To book tickets now, click this link: https://www.ramblingbeerco.com/beertogether/

#BeerTogether Meet The Brewery: Neckstamper Brewing

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Today we’re talking to Adam, founder of Neckstamper Brewing, one of the participants of the #BeerTogether project, which celebrates independent craft beer from Liverpool and Ukraine. Despite being based in London, Neckstamper has collaborated with Didko Brewery for the project, allowing Chief Rambling Officer Jo to create our first-ever Rambling Beer Co. Beer! Adam shares the brewery’s origin story, and ethos, and reveals the musician he’d love to have a #BeerTogether with.

Q: Tell us about your brewery and how it got started.

Adam founded Neckstamper Brewing in East London in 2016 following careers in F1 and the City – like many other founders turning a passion for beer and homebrewing into a new career direction. Neckstamper specialises in heavily hopped, punchy styles as well as porters and lagers brewed traditionally but with a modern twist. We regularly release specials experimenting with different hops, yeast and brewing techniques.
We often get asked about the name – Neckstamper! Our name and the name of our beers come from old beer slang. Neck-stamper was the term given to the pot boy/girl at ale houses in the 1600s. Their job was to collect the tankards that had been sent out to homes, the empties were strung around their ‘necks’ as they ‘stamped’ around the streets of London.

Q: Describe the ethos of your brewery and what it stands for.

At Neckstamper Brewing we pride ourselves on creating high-quality beers and strive for constant improvement through innovation, prioritising quality, and craftsmanship over mass production. Our connection with the local community is very important to us – with a great local crowd regularly visiting our taproom. We love to collaborate with local businesses and good causes.

Q: What is your proudest accomplishment as a brewery to date?

We really appreciate how loyal pubs have been to us and view this as a recognition of the quality and consistency we aim for in the beers that we brew. One of our most local pubs – the Crooked Billet – continues to pour Squencher, our IPA, since almost day one.

This year we were thrilled to receive National Gold awards at SIBA’s BeerX Independent Keg competition for both beers we entered.

Q: If you could have #BeerTogether with any musician, past or present, who would it be and why?

Jo’s choice is Ian MacKaye of Fugazi. Ian’s a legend who would have incredible stories to tell, although he presumably wouldn’t drink as he’s ‘straight edge’.

Q: What does #BeerTogether mean to you?

#BeerTogether is all about bringing together great breweries from Liverpool and Ukraine (and us, from London), to celebrate all things beer and Eurovision, and to raise money for some fantastic charities, largely going towards supporting Ukraine.

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Cheers, Adam! We can’t wait to try your beers!

If you want to guarantee a taster, you’ll have to book a ticket to one of our #BeerTogether tours this May in Liverpool. More details and how to book can be found here: https://www.ramblingbeerco.com/beertogether/

#BeerTogether Meet the Brewery: Didko Brewery

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Come and meet one of the most fun and surprising breweries in the #BeerTogether project, Didko Brewery! Taking inspiration from a mischievous Loki figure from Ukrainian mythology, Didko Brewery has gained a reputation for creating unconventional and quirky beers. In this interview, we’ll learn more about how this brewery got started, its ethos, proudest accomplishments, and its perspective on #BeerTogether. We’ll also find out which musicians they would love to share a beer with (hint: there are many!). So sit back, grab a cold one, and join us in getting to know Didko Brewery.

Q: Tell us about your brewery and how it started.

A: It all started as a homebrewing project with around 10 beers, which were presented at the Kyiv beer festival. Encouraged by the positive feedback, we proceeded to contract brew and recreate our home-invented recipes on a larger scale. We also brewed collaborations with Ukrainian and European breweries. Two years ago, we managed to build our own small facility, installed equipment and started a full-fledged brewery.

We now brew varied styles of all kinds of beer  – over 170 of them! We do familiar hoppy IPAs, classical Stouts, Doppelbocks and Pils, but we’re better known for our beers that incorporate more unusual flavours!

Q: Describe the ethos of your brewery and what it stands for.

A: We take our inspiration from the personality of our namesake, “Didko”. Didko is a lesser demon of Ukrainian mythology, but he is not evil, he’s a witty and cunning trickster. He can make a joke of you, or urge you to do something you’d never dare to take on alone.

More often than not, we ask ourselves, what would Didko do? We want to surprise and awe people by incorporating unusual ingredients into our beers. We like to make beer that is kinda weird, with flavours that are unconventional. For example, we’ve made more than 10 varieties of smoked beers full of smoky, peated, roast, and Islay Whisky flavours. Tomato beer has a special place in our hearts; we brewed a tomato Gose with a huge selection of additional ingredients such as pepper, beetroot, onion, celery, dill, and others, and all of them were loved and appreciated, so we are not going to stop experimenting with it.

All in all, we love quirky beers – strong strawberry gose, stouts with pear and cranberry, extra strong barleywines with blueberries, stouts with tabasco, IPA with cardamom and spices, beer with pomegranates, cherry, dried mango, kiwi, nuts, olives, anise, you name it… oh and barrel ageing is also something we love to do!

Q: What is your proudest accomplishment as a brewery to date?

A: I am proud of the fact that our brewery has been able to delight people with beer for 7 years. During this time, we brewed almost 200 types of beer. We met many brewers from many countries and we have the opportunity to continue doing what we like and bring joy. Because people’s love for your product is the greatest joy and motivation for any brewer.

Q: If you could have #beertogether with any musician, past or present, who would it be and why?

I wouldn’t want to pick just one person to have a beer with. I like the idea of making a good beer and sharing it with the many musicians I love. I’m afraid that if we collect all the miscreants, we will need to put on a festival! I love all kinds of music, so if it’s heavy music it has to be Marilyn Manson, Jay Weinberg the drummer of Slipknot, the great and terrible Ozzy Osbourne, and Marc Bolan from T. Rex. I will also be happy to see Robbie Williams, George Michael, and Brian Harold May. Well, if it’s going to be a lot of fun and we want to have a rave party, then I’ll be more than happy to have a pre-party beer with Enduser, Vitalic, Current Value, Limewax, Aphex Twin, Noisia and many many many… I love music too much to choose just one musician!

Q: What does #Beertogether mean to you?

A: This project is important for me as it’s important for the development of brewing and important for Ukraine. This support means a lot to us at this time. It’s great to see so many cool breweries involved. Many people found out about my country, unfortunately for a very bad reason. As people begin to forget about the war that is currently taking place in Ukraine, this project is a great chance to remind them about it, because we have no right to forget about it while the war continues.

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If you want to try the #BeerTogether that Didko is brewing with Neckstamper Brewing and The Rambling Beer Co., get your tickets to one of our #BeerTogether tastings in Liverpool during May!: https://www.ramblingbeerco.com/beertogether

 

Manchester Beer Tour

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Manchester Beer Tour

Hey there, beer lovers! I’m thrilled to share with you all our recent Manchester Beer Tour in the Northern Quarter. Our tour covered some of the best craft beer bars in the city, and we had a fantastic time exploring the vibrant beer scene of the Northern Quarter area of the city.

What a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon!

Our Manchester Beer Tour welcomes Pelican Bar!

Our first stop on our Manchester beer tour was the newly-opened Pelican Bar (formerly known as Beatnikz Republic), where we tasted a range of beers. Pelican Bar is now run by the incredible Squawk Brewing Co. and it’s a beautiful place in which to enjoy their beers and the great range of guest beers they have on offer too. We started with a delicious pale ale from the Squawk Brewery on cask, then moved on to a deep and rich London Porter from Pressure Drop, and a refreshing Saison from local Manchester brewery Blackjack. The highlight of this stop was the wonderful cellar manager Sian, who taught us about cellar skills and the importance of looking after cask and keg beers to ensure they’re served in peak condition. Sian’s passion and expertise were impressive, and we all learned a lot from her.

Northern Monk Refectory MCR is the second stop on our Manchester Beer Tour

We explored the amazing beer selection at Northern Monk Refectory MCR, which is always impressive, with beers from its own brewery, as well as plenty of interesting guest brews too. We were lucky to taste beers from Black Lodge Brewery, which is a popular stop on our Liverpool beer tours. Their raspberry Berliner Weisse was a refreshing treat and a great midpoint for our tasting.

The Fierce Bar NQ Finalle

Our final stop was the warm and welcoming Fierce Bar, where we tried a hazy New England IPA, a Cherry-cola sour (which was the surprise hit of the day!), and a Coffee & Vanilla Tiramisu Stout, a collab between Fierce Beer and Queer Brewing.

Learning about Beer

Throughout our Manchester beer tour, we discussed the history of beer styles, particularly IPA, and how it has evolved into newer versions of the style, like West Coast and New England IPA.

Overall, it was a blast showing the group around, and we’d love for you to join us on our next Manchester beer tour or tasting. You can book tickets or join our mailing list to stay informed about upcoming events. And if you’re looking for the perfect gift for a fellow beer lover, we offer gift vouchers too!

Cheers, and happy tasting!

The Manchester Beer Tour tasting list:

Pelican Bar:

  • Squawk – 3.8% Pavo, Cask Pale Ale
  • Blackjack Brewery – 4.0% Juene, Small Saison
  • Pressure Drop – 6.5% Fashion, London Porter

Northern Monk Refectory MCR:

  • Northern Monk – Great Northern Lager
  • Black Lodge Brewery – 3.2% I Know Karate, Voodoo Too, Fruited Berliner Weisse
  • Northern Monk – 4.0%, A Little Faith, NE/Hazy session pale ale

Fierce Bar NQ:

  • Fierce Beer – 5.6% Late Shift, New England IPA
  • Fierce Beer x Alpha Delta Brewery – 4.6% Cherry Cola Sour
  • Fierce Beer x Queer Brewing – 4.5% Coffee & Vanilla Tiramisu Stout

Joining Rambling Beer Co. Tours & Tastings

To learn more about our UK-wide tours and tastings, visit https://the-rambling-beer-co.designmynight.com.

Learn more about the team here.

Have you heard about #BeerTogether? Joining the breweries of Liverpool and Ukraine in a celebration of Eurovision.

Book a Manchester private or group tour here.

Activities in Liverpool During Eurovision: #BeerTogether

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Liverpool is gearing up for the Eurovision Song Contest, and we’ve got some exciting news to share with you. We’re bringing a one-of-a-kind beer celebration to the city, featuring exclusive small-batch beers brewed by independent craft breweries from Ukraine and Liverpool. Get ready to join us for the #BeerTogether activities in Liverpool during Eurovision!

#Beer Together for Eurovision

The Rambling Beer Co. is offering two unique activities in Liverpool during Eurovision, as part of the #BeerTogether project. We’re always on the lookout for fun and unique events to help expand our guest’s beer knowledge, and these activities will definitely fit the bill!

The #BeerTogether project is all about showcasing the independent craft beer communities of Liverpool and Ukraine during the Eurovision Song Contest. We’ve brought together independent breweries from Ukraine to collaborate with Liverpool’s craft breweries, resulting in eight exceptional small-batch beers, each with its own distinct flavour and story.

Unique Beer Tours & Tastings

The first activity on offer is the #BeerTogether Tasting, led by one of our beer experts at The Head of Steam craft beer bar in the heart of Liverpool. During the one-hour tasting, you’ll have the opportunity to sample all eight beers from The Rambling Beer Co.’s #BeerTogether project and learn about the passionate brewers behind each brew from Liverpool and Ukraine.

The second activity is the #BeerTogether Walking Tour of the City, which takes us on a leisurely stroll along the docks and past the iconic Liver Building, taking in the sights and sounds of Liverpool during Eurovision. We’ll then visit Carnival Brewing Co. for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how they craft their exceptional brews, and of course, a taste of their very own exclusive #BeerTogether collaboration beer, along with two other beers from their lineup. Finally, we’ll visit Azvex, where their expert team will give us a detailed behind-the-scenes tour of their state-of-the-art brewery, and we’ll sample three of their exceptional beers, including their very own #BeerTogether collaboration brew.

If you’re looking for fun and unique activities to do in Liverpool during Eurovision, then the #BeerTogether events by The Rambling Beer Co. are a must. It’s the perfect opportunity to explore the thriving brewing scene of Liverpool and Ukraine, indulge in some exceptional brews, and expand your beer knowledge with fellow beer lovers.

Book Now!

So why not join me and the rest of The Rambling Beer Co. team for an unforgettable experience in Liverpool during Eurovision? Book your tickets now and let’s raise a glass to independent craft beer communities! Cheers!

To find out more about the other activities that are running in Liverpool during Eurovision, Check out Visit Liverpool’s website here: https://www.visitliverpool.com/

Tours and tastings in Liverpool during Eurovision #BeerTogether

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Beer Together - two people cheers with beer with wristbands representing the colours of the cities of Liverpool and Ukraine. Celebrating Eurovision 2023 with tours and tastings in Liverpool during Eurovision.

The Rambling Beer Co. unites Liverpool and Ukraine for Eurovision

Tours and tastings in Liverpool during Eurovision. As soon as I heard that Liverpool had won the bid to host Eurovision for Ukraine, I couldn’t contain my excitement. It was going to be an incredible moment for the city, and I knew it was an honour to have the opportunity to shine a light on the passion and bravery of the people of Ukraine.

As someone who’s all about the beers, I was eager to showcase the hard work, talent, and passion of these two brewing communities. I wanted to make sure that the tens of thousands of Eurovision-loving, party-going visitors to Liverpool could taste the result of all the brewers’ hard work and learn more about the community-led independent beer scene of both Liverpool and Ukraine. I knew I had to create some very special tours and tastings in Liverpool during Eurovision.

 

#BeerTogether

I’m proud to announce our latest project, Beer Together, which will see these passionate brewers working together to create eight unique beers that will be available at select venues throughout Liverpool during the Eurovision festivities. From the Ukrainian Golden Ale to the classic Belgian Blanche Wheat Beer, there is a beer style that will delight every palate.

“A little more love, compassion, and camaraderie never hurt, and all of this will be delivered by Liverpudlian and Ukrainian breweries alike in sizable quantities.” – Lana S.

I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the wonderful Ukrainian beer writer and educator, Lana Svitankova, on this project. It is truly an honour to collaborate with someone so knowledgeable and passionate about beer.

Lana has been instrumental in helping me coordinate the Ukrainian side of the project, reaching out to breweries and working alongside me to pair them with their Liverpool counterparts. As someone who is not fluent in Ukrainian, her services in translation have been invaluable in ensuring that everything runs smoothly. I am grateful to have her on board and I know that her expertise and dedication will make this project even more successful.

Tours & tastings in Liverpool during Eurovision.

Throughout the first half of May, alongside the Eurovision events in Liverpool, I’ll be leading a range of activities, including beer tastings, meet-and-greet sessions with brewers, food pairing events, and guided walking tours. I’m excited to show off these collaboration beers during the tours and tasting events I have planned and to introduce visitors to the incredible brewing talent that Liverpool and Ukraine have to offer.

The amazing Head Of Steam, Hanover Street, in the centre of the city, will be serving all eight beers over the Eurovision festival period, and will also serve as the hub for the project’s regular tours and tastings.

To me, #BeerTogether is more than just a celebration of beer. It’s a celebration of community, of bringing people together through a shared love of a great pint. I can’t wait to share the liquid expression of togetherness with you all. So come and join us for a pint, or two, and let’s raise a glass to unity and good times!

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