As the government has decided to relax COVID restrictions, some of our sorely missed pubs have reopened their doors and many others are planning to open quite soon. The glorious local is back in business!
So we figured, why not celebrate our locals too. As we’re Holloway Road, N7, here’s a round up of some of the great local breweries. Whether you find these as a guest in the nearest pub, or in our store, nobody would be the same without their local – so cheers to them!
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While the sale of Magic Rock Brewery to Australia's Lion Group (subsidiary of Kirin) may not have had a huge impact on a lot of beer drinkers, it was our Gluten Free (GF) beer drinking customers that leapt to the forefront of our minds.
Over the last year the two Magic Rock Gluten Free beers Fantasma and Saucery have become firm customer favourites at indiebeer. Finding replacements for these and widening our range became a huge priority for us.
The loss of these hoppy beers from our shelves might still impact on the number of customers that visit our store, but we are determined to ensure that Gluten Free beer drinkers will continue to get as diverse and as high quality products as our regular beer drinkers.
The quality and taste of the new beers that we have found make us think it might not be long before these gluten free beers merge into the regular drinkers market. They really are that good!
It is great to see gluten free getting such increasing focus from breweries.
This is where we put a BIG DISCLAIMER!
While we sell beers that are approved to be labelled as Gluten Free, their suitability actually differs depending on just how gluten intolerant you are. Here we outline the two main types of Gluten Free beer production methods. Most of the beers currently in production by craft breweries are produced using the second method, which for coeliacs is not always considered to be safe enough.
Fyi, Magic Rock beers fall into the 2nd category so in theory if you were drinking those without any issues you should be OK with other beers produced using this method.
Beers brewed mainly from cereals such as millet, rice, sorghum, buckwheat and corn (maize), which do not contain gluten. These do not trigger an autoimmune response in coeliacs.
Simply put, with these beers, what goes into the mash does not contain gluten.
Some brewers brew with barley or rye, and reduce the level of gluten to below 20 ppm.
In the UK this technically classifies them as gluten free beers.
Westerham brewery have produced a great infographic guide to this method of brewing gluten free beers, which you can find at the following link:
https://westerhambrewery.co.uk/how-we-make-real-beer-gluten-free/
New This Week
Mikkeller Weird Weather New England IPA (6.7%)
Yes, there is no doubt that Mikkeller beers lean towards the more expensive end of the scale but WOW, this beer really is delicious. We would challenge any fan of New England haze not to enjoy this.
Brass Castle Bad Kitty (5.5%)
A customer favourite has returned. A chewy chocolate-vanilla dream of a porter.
Brass Castle Disruptor IPA (7.4%)
A devilishly drinkable hazy New England style IPA hopped with Mosaic, Simcoe, Comet & Citra for big fruit aroma and flavour.
Brass Castle The Western Wall Wheat (5.2%)
The Western Wall is a strudel inspired Weissbier, with plenty of apple, cinnamon & toffee notes. This is part of a Bigger Picture series of nine beers, the labels of which highlight Yorkshire myths and legends, whilst also forming a genuine treasure map.
Jakes Saffron Beer (4.8%)
Lightly hopped, smooth lager that marries subtle saffron flavours with hints of honeycomb and tangerine. To many people saffron is a bit of a mystery. However, when used carefully, it is an incredible flavour enhancer, pulling out ingredients within and making them linger on the tongue. That’s why, in a world of highly hopped beers, Jake's has created this subtle, smooth style lager that allows the saffron to flourish and bring out the best in the beer’s delicate balance of bitter and aromatic hops.
Already In Our Range
Westerham Helles Lager (4%)
SIBA Gold Award Winner 2017 - Standard Lager and Pilsners. A beautifully delicate but hoppy Helles style lager. Hopped with German Hallertau Tradition and lagered a minimum of 4 weeks.
Westerham Gold Rush American Pale Ale (4.5%)
Colorado-style American Pale Ale. Brewed with 4 malts to create a complex malt backbone for the 6 American hops that drive a robust but balanced hop forward amber ale.
Coming Soon
Westerham Wally Winkers Death By Chocolate (4.5%)
A decadent triple-chocolate stout with an intensely sweet, chocolatey nose. This is balanced by a medium-dry flavour of bitter chocolate rounded out by hints of sweet vanilla. Coming in at an easy-drinking 4.5% ABV its light mouthfeel beautifully compliments its rich aroma.
As a beer fan, Oktoberfest is one of the events everyone wants to attend at least once. Each year, millions of revellers descend on Munich, Germany for the world’s largest celebration of Bavarian culture and, of course, beer.
Originally hosted in October 1810 on the ‘Wiesn’, Oktoberfest is now a September tradition around the world. This year, festivities kick off Saturday 22 September and officially wind down Sunday 7 October in Munich, but London’s festivities will carry on until Halloween!
In Munich the only beer served comes from local breweries such as Augustiner, Paulaner and Spaten, with one-litre glasses of Helles being the most popular. Each brewery hosts one of the 14 famously decorated tents, which can hold anywhere from 98 to 10000 people, so whether you’re looking for a raucous party, a family-friendly get together, or a more intimate Bavarian experience, Munich has it all.
If you won’t make it to Munich this year, or if you’re looking to extend your festival experience, London’s calendar is packed with events across the city and you can drop by indiebeer to check out our Oktoberfest selection!
For 2018, we have two Oktoberfest style beers on tap.
Ayinger Oktober Fest Märzen is a German Lager brewed exclusively to coincide with the festival. A clear medium amber with a deep aroma of sweet malt and a crisp, balanced flavour of toasted grain and honey. Smooth and endlessly drinkable it’s been an Oktoberfest favourite since 2015.
Gipsy Hill Wiesn is a UK Lager brewed back in June especially for this year’s Oktoberfest. Described as “slightly sweet, nutty, smooth and delicious”.
You can also mix and match the other German bottles we have in stock from Augustiner, Ayinger and Schlenkerla for the season.
Augustiner Helles will be one of the more popular beers on tap in Munich this year. Helles means ‘light-coloured’, and this crisp, smooth and wildly popular summer beer is perfect for savouring those last days of summer.
We have two other Ayinger beers in stock: Jahundrt and Celebrator.
Jahundrt is a Dortmunder, a stronger, malt-accented pale lager with a golden colour, an initial flavour of sweet honey and a slightly bitter finish.
Celebrator is a dark Doppelbock with a dominant malty taste and coffee tones. A traditionally brewed classic perfect for the transition into cooler autumn evenings.
To round it off, we have two Schlenkerla variations, Helles and Marzen, perfect for nights around an early autumn campfire.
Though the Helles is a traditional lager and not a smoked beer, it does have subtle hints of smokiness that blend with the hoppy grass tones.
The Marzen is a classic dark, bottom fermented smokebeer with heavy smoke tones that would pair well with an Oktoberfest meal of sausage and a pretzel.
26 September - 20 October, Bavarian Beerhouse Oktoberfest (Old Street & Tower Hill)
http://www.bavarian-beerhouse.co.uk/london/oktoberfest/
The UK’s longest running Oktoberfest with over 180,000 visitors each year. Tickets will get you allocated seats, table service from real Bavarian barmaids, great food and beer, and traditional Oompah entertainers!
27 September - 28 October, Erdinger Oktoberfest (Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park)
https://erdinger-oktoberfest.co.uk/
Hosted by the Erdinger brewery each year, the main celebration is held in the traditionally decorated tent which holds 3000 people, and the surrounding festival grounds boasts rides, food, and music for the family.
Saturdays throughout October, Brixton Oktoberfest (Brixton Jamm)
https://brixtonoktoberfest.com
Take the traditionally Bavarian Oktoberfest and give it a Berlin twist with street food, and unrivalled selection of craft beers, and a lineup of German DJ’s.
3 - 6 October, Oktoberfesten at Flat Iron Square (Southbank)
If you’re a foodie, you know Flat Iron Square has you covered and Oktoberfest is no exception. Come for the food and beer, and enjoy German-themed games and music!
4 - 14 October & 18 - 31 October, London Oktoberfest 2018 (Canary Wharf & Finsbury Park)
http://london-oktoberfest.co.uk/index.html
Celebrate Oktoberfest in a traditional blue and white tent at Millwall Park. Dance on communal benches to live Oompah music with around 50,000 guests!
Or check out the Halloween Special at Finsbury Park!
12 - 14 October, Heist Bank Beer Festival (Paddington)
https://heistbankbeerfestival.com/
With over 50 taps from UK, Australian and Scandinavian breweries and a 12 tap takeover by three top breweries to launch “special seasonal releases and collaborative brews”, Heist Bank is the place to be. Get stuck in with workshops, tastings, and more!
13 October & 20 October, The Official Camden Oktoberfest (Electric Ballroom)
http://www.camdenoktoberfest.com/
The Electric Ballroom will be “transformed into a fully decked-out, traditional Bavarian beerhall” serving up giant steins of Spaten, Löwenbräu & Becks to live music from THE OLD DIRTY BRASSTARDS. Fancy dress is encouraged!
18 - 19 October, London Bierfest (Old Billingsgate Market)
http://www.thelondonbierfest.com/
Looking for an event where you can take coworkers or potential clients? Bierfest is London’s leading corporate hospitality event and you can book tables for up to 10 to enjoy unlimited steins, live music, and platters of traditional German food.
indiebeer has only been open for 7 months but already we’ve been named Most Loved Local Shop in Holloway in the annual Time Out Love London Awards.
You can’t imagine how happy we are to have been accepted into and received such support from this community.
In return, we want to make sure you love your summer, and what better way to make the most of those rare warm days than to crack open a refreshing can of beer!
Over the next few months we’ll be sharing our Guide to Summer -- so that you’ll never have to wonder what you should do at the weekend or what new independent beers would suit the occasion.
First up: festival season kicks off this month.
Most of the UK’s famed music festivals have really cracked down on drinks. But for those of you planning a long weekend of camping and revelry, we’ve put together a list of some that allow alcohol in their campsites.
Top Tips for Festival Season:
21-24 June - Isle of Wight Festival, Seaclose Park, Isle of Wight https://isleofwightfestival.com/
What is it? The first major festival of the year, it’s eclectic, very big, extremely inclusive of all types of music, and accommodates for all ages. Only two hours outside the Big Smoke, the island can be whatever you make of it!
Our Suggestions:
Burnt Mill Pintle - An Australian Cascade & Citra hops pale ale brewed with wheat, oats and flaked barley to smooth out the body.
Westbrook Gose - One of the best Gose style sour beers you can get. It’s a German-style wheat beer with hints of coriander and salt.
How much can you bring? Unlimited amounts allowed in the campsite!
6-8 July - Wireless Festival, Finsbury Park, London https://www.wirelessfestival.co.uk/
What is it? If you’re into the Urban music scene, you’ll love this year’s lineup. The most conveniently located festival on our list caters to a slightly younger (or younger at heart) crowd but there are ways to make this big weekend a little more grown up. Your selection of pre-drink beverages, for instance!
Our Suggestion: Two Tribes Non Stop Hits Modern Lager - This brewery is a neighbour of ours! They recently opened up in Kings Cross and have an amazing, music-centric taproom. On top of a great can design, this lager is really light, crisp, and easy to drink.
How much can you bring? Alcohol is banned at this festival, however, it’s right here on our home turf and just around the corner from indiebeer!
2-5 August - Bestival, Lulworth Estate, Dorset
What is it? For the quirkier individuals amongst us, Bestival takes the cake. The festival itself hosts a mix of popular music and comedy, but what makes it stand out is the out of this world fancy dress! If you like a bit of random fun and silliness with your tunes, start planning your group costume now!
Our Suggestion: Gipsy Hill Hepcat - This Session IPA is light and easy to drink all day. “Mosaic, Citra, Ekuanot and Motueka hops combine to produce an intensely tropical-citrus hit. It’s inviting orange hue speaks of what’s to come.”
How much can you bring? “The maximum you can bring in per person is 1 crate of cans/plastic bottles (24 max.) & 70cl of spirits OR 1 crate of cans/plastic bottles (24 max.) & up to 3 litres of wine in a plastic bottle or carton/bag/box.”
17-18 August - RiZE Festival, Hylands Park, Chelmsford https://rizefestival.co.uk/
What is it? With Glastonbury on hiatus this year and V out of the picture, this brand new festival hopes to pick up where they both left off and deliver the summer’s biggest lineup of popular music. And this one’s only about an hour outside of the city! Again, expect a slightly younger crowd and don’t forget your wellies!
Our Suggestions: Verdant Bloom - This IPA has a sweet tropical juice aroma, packed with flavour and bitterness. The brewers describe it as “Think blueberry muffins with a hint of caramel and liquorice.” Breakfast? Or dessert? Why not both?
How much can you bring? No food or drink is permitted in the arena, but if you’re camping (or glamping?) or are just planning to take the train up for the day, you can have as many beers as you please before and after!
23-26 August - Creamfields, Daresbury, Liverpool
What is it? Consistently ranked the UK’s best Dance event, this is the place to be if you want to lose yourself in a heavy bass beat and forget that summer is coming to a close. Grab a few glow sticks, paint yourself with glitter, and let loose!
Our Suggestions: Tiny Rebel Cali - Another one from the West Coast, full of juicy and tropical US hops. Going for a glitzy beachy flair, this IPA’s “Flavours of sweet mango and resiny pine transport you to the redwood forests and the mountain-lined beaches between Los Angeles and San Francisco.”
How much can you bring? According to the site, “Alcohol may only be brought into the festival if you are camping. There is a limit of 24 cans and a 1 litre plastic bottle of spirit or wine per person. Any alcohol in glass bottles must be decanted into plastic bottles.”
24-26 August - Reading & Leeds Festival https://www.readingfestival.com/ & https://www.leedsfestival.com/
What is it? These ones cover all the bases -- punk, rock, alternative, indie, pop, hip hop, rap, and even metal. They’re massive, eclectic, and some of the UK’s best recognised and most attended festivals. Pick your site, or bounce between the two to see your favourite artists twice!
Our Suggestions:
Magic Rock Salty Kiss - A good entry beer to Sours, this is a tart and fruity German-style Gose flavoured with fruit, sea buckthorn and sea salt.
Fierce Beer Tangerine Tart - Scottish, tart, and very summery, this Sour has been described as “cuddly” but “grabs you like a hungry wolf”! Intrigued yet?
How much can you bring? Unlimited at the campsite until 6pm Sunday!