HARLEQUIN PALE
Time to read 1 min
SAVE THE UK HOP INDUSTRY. ONE PINT AT A TIME.
Harlequin Pale 4.0% is our latest collaboration brew! A hop-forward cask beer using British-grown Harlequin hops from Charles Faram & Co.
Beth Eaton, Sales Manager at Charles Faram & Co, explains that besides supplying malts, yeasts and everything else a brewer could need, hops are their no. 1 priority.
"We are grower-owned. British hop growing is our passion. Part of the program is to save the hop growing industry in the UK. It's in decline. We need to save it."
Beth argues that the success of hops like Harlequin is vital to pivot this decline.
She explains that breeding hops like Harlequin, that give the bold flavour characteristics that the modern beer drinker expects, will help boost British hop growing immeasurably.
"There was scepticism that we couldn't do this in the UK hop farms, but we've proven that we can and we'll continue to do so."
"This is definitely a step forward. It's such a popular hop, it's growing in popularity. Brewers that would normally use more American style hops are using Harlequin and loving it."
Head Brewer, Vinny, was pleasantly surprised when sampling Harlequin Pale to see the exact results the hop could deliver:
"We're getting lots of tropical notes like pineapple, stone fruits and little bit of honey. We've got all those fresh new flavours you'd expect from hops from the more exotic parts of the world, especially ones we can be guilty of overusing at times."
Vinny admitted to being sceptical that a UK hop could shine through as much as his favourite NZ hops, but Harlequin delivered. The brew team created a clean malt grist of Marris Otter, Vienna and Wheat. This allows the Harlequin to really shine through, with its tropical flavours prominent on the nose and palette.
By using modern British-grown hops, Moonwake are part of a movement to restore the historical hop growing industry in the UK. One pint at a time.
