ANSPACH & HOBDAY – MAKING THE DARK SIDE THE FUTURE!
Despite all of the problems that the hospitality industry has faced over the last two years, it is good to see that some businesses are flourishing. Set up eight years ago by two friends, the Anspach & Hobday Brewery has grown from sharing an arch in Bermondsey with Bullfinch Brewery to having its own 1,400 litre plant in Croydon. The move from the arch took place in 2019, with the enlarged brewery opening the following year. Paul Anspach explained, “We originally started the brewery concentrating on bottles but by the time we came to move, we hardly had any bottle accounts. The new brewery had space for a canning line and that saved us during the pandemic.”
But this move is not the end of the growth and Anspach & Hobday have been seriously considering their future. “We have produced a nitrokeg porter called London Black and have been pushing it into outlets (many of them new). We are prepared to fit the dispense equipment and it means we have a ‘craft’ product that is on the bar all the time rather than being on a rota, as we are with the other beers. Currently, the beer is in around 50 outlets and it accounts for around a quarter of our sales but we are looking to grow it to 50%”, said Paul. This growth means they need more brewing capacity. Paul continued, “We’re currently brewing twice a day and want to expand and double capacity so we are seeking some second hand kit. To create the space, we are taking on a new building in Croydon so that we can separate warehousing from brewing.” The 4.4% ABV porter is creamy with sweet fudge notes and a hint of black treacle overlaid with a dry roasty character.
You can find the beer at any of their three tap rooms, Archway in Bermondsey, the Pigeon in Camberwell and the Croydon Tap; see www.anspachandhobday.com. “London Black is a key part of our of our plans going forward”, said Paul, so the future certainly looks dark but not dismal for Anspach & Hobday!
Christine Cryne
GORGEOUS
The brewery’s home since 2016, the Grade II-listed Bull in Highgate (N6 4AB), was sold in March to Greene King (Metropolitan Pubs). Gorgeous have put their brewing kit in store and are actively looking for another site. They intend to continue brewing. The company has another pub, the Plough at Sleapshyde (AL4 0SE).
MONCADA
t has now been confirmed that the Dollis Hill based brewery closed at the end of last year. Coincidentally, there is a report that their brewing kit has been sold to Anspach & Hobday.
SAMBROOK’S
A new dark mild called Night Shift recently appeared in the Brewery Tap at the Wandsworth Ram Quarter. At 3.5% ABV it is seriously moreish yet still achieves a great balance between coffee-ish biscuity malt and a restrained fruity hop finish. It was available throughout CAMRA’s traditional mild month of May and features, along with a dozen other UK milds, at the Born to be Mild festival, scheduled to be held at the Tap over the weekend of 27 to 29 May.
Also expected late in May is a collaboration between the two John’s (Hatch and Keeling) in the form of a 5.5% ABV ESB to be called Twisted Griffin. Sambrook’s will also be brewing Resist, the beetroot flavoured Anti-Imperial Stout jointly with the Westerham and Ramsgate breweries, to raise funds for the Ukraine humanitarian appeal. (See News and Views on page 16). It will be available in kegs and cans only and should be ready by the time that you read this. I’m looking forward to these!
Finally, John Hatch has a monthly Design a Beer competition that allows a neophyte brewer to design a beer and then brew it with the legend that is Mr Hatch. May’s winner was a rhubarb beer called Topknot IPA.
Peter J Sutcliffe (Brewery Liaison Officer)
TRUMAN’S
There are going to be significant changes at Truman’s following the take-over of the company by part of its existing management team. The company, formed in 2010, is leaving Hackney Wick and will be based at the old Truman’s brewery site in Brick Lane. They will continue to operate the Truman Social Club in Blackhorse Lane, Walthamstow, the Newman Arms in Fitzrovia (see page 32) and their bar at London City Airport. Their online shop will also continue trading. In September the operation will be rebranded. Their beers will now be brewed under contract, hopefully by a brewer in London.
WIMBLEDON
Congratulations to Wimbledon Brewery on winning two accolades at the recent International Brewing Awards. These were a Gold in the International Strong Beer (Speciality) (ABV range 7 to 9.9%) class for their magnificent 2019 vintage XXXK barley wine and a Bronze for their Wimbledon Gold lager in the Keg Lager (ABV range 4.5 to 6.9%) class. The awards were presented at a very elegant ceremony at the Guildhall (City of London) in April.
The photo shows, left to right, Mauro Frater and Michael Prentice, joint Lead Brewers, and the legendary Derek Prentice, the Brewing Director. With thanks to the organisers for use of the photo.
Martin Butler (Brewery Liaison Officer)
NEW DEVELOPMENT FOR THAMESMEAD
The Rock Leopard Brewing Company was set up in 2017 and, up to now, has been brewing courtesy of other brewers with spare space. They have however now decided that it is time to have their own premises and are crowdfunding to build a brewpub at Thamesmead, as part of a major regeneration project, which will serve as a community hub as well as a brewery and taproom.
Rock Leopard’s founder, Stacey Ayeh, explained, “On the whole, I think what sets craft beer apart from big beer is the stories behind the breweries and, when done right, the positive impact they have in their communities. Seeing the passion and dedication that goes into making these delicious drinks really adds to the pride people can feel about their community. It’s time to expand that community and show it could be possible to expand ownership and agency.” The company also plans to provide jobs and skills training through an NVQ programme offered to students at the nearby Shooters Hill Sixth Form College. For more information, go to http://www.rockleopardbrewing.com/