ESSEX STREET BREWERY
This microbrewery is housed in the Temple Brew House, Aldwych (WC2R 3JF) and is owned by the City Pub Group (CPG). It has yet to reopen after the various lockdowns and we have heard that the brewer, the awesome Vanesa de Blas Montoya, is moving to Cambridge to take over CPG’s brewery there. Cambridge’s gain is very much London’s loss and we wish Vanesa every success. It is understood that CPG have postponed any decision as to reopening the Temple Brew House while the City remains quiet.
FAUNA BREWING
This new venture has been set up by Phil F Howard, a zoologist who spent some time in the Okavango Delta in Botswana as a bush ranger. Phil’s intention is to raise funds for wildlife conservation charities through the sale of his beers. Each beer is dedicated to a particular species. Phil explained, “At our core, Fauna is a purpose driven brand. We believe everyone should strive to make a change no matter how big or small and we make it as easy as drinking a beer.” The range at present is Cheetah lager (4.5% ABV), Wild Dog IPA (4.2% ABV) and Pango table beer (2.8% ABV). At present, the beers are available in 330ml cans from Fauna’s on-line shop. All Fauna brews are suitable for vegans. Phil does not yet have his own brewery and it is understood that, to begin with at least, the beers were brewed at Exale Brewing in Walthamstow. You can find out more about the projects that Fauna have been funding and buy the beers here.
GOSNELL’S MEAD
Peckham Rye may not be as exotic as Botswana but there is still some interesting wildlife about! Mead, for those who are not sure, is ‘an alcoholic beverage created by fermenting honey with water, sometimes with various fruits, spices, grains, or hops’ (definition courtesy of Wikipedia). Gosnell’s are, I believe, London’s only producers of this drink, which is particularly popular with a certain group of CAMRA members. Honey, of course, means bees and to attract these vital contributors, Gosnell’s have created their own ‘urban mead garden’, with a mix of sunflowers, thyme, rosemary, lavender and wildflowers. As Tom Gosnell explains, “It’s amazing how Peckham’s bumblebees, solitary bees, beetles and honey bees have found us. It shows the massive potential for all of us urbanites to add our own bit of nature to our towns and cities. It’s exciting how many herbs, flowers and nectar rich plants can be housed in window boxes, up walls or on roofs and gardens.” Gosnell’s range includes Classic (5.5% ABV), Sour (4% ABV) and Pink Hibiscus (4%). You can purchase these in 330ml cans through their website www.gosnells.co.uk. You can also use the site to book a visit to the mead garden, which is open Fridays 5pm till 10pm and Saturday 1pm to 10pm.