Musicians collaborating with brewers is so last year – the new trend is beers inspired by DJs and a Kent-based brewery is leading the way.
Pig & Porter has created a beer in honour of legendary DJ, and former Old Grey Whistle Test presenter, Bob Harris.
Named Whispering Bob, for his iconic husky-voiced delivery, the American(a) IPA came by its name when brewer Sean Ayling made the first prototype batch while listening to Bob’s 40th Anniversary show on BBC Radio 2.
“Kick back, open a bottle of pale ale and listen to this,” were Bob’s words of advice to his Old Grey Whistle Test audience as played in a clip on the radio programme.
Says Sean, “Back then the brewery didn’t even have a name, but once we were up and running I thought I’d ask Bob if he’d mind us naming the beer after him – and being Bob he didn’t!”
The 6.5% ABV brew is being released exclusively in 330ml bottles. It is Pig & Porter’s first bottled beer – with all of their previous brews being for cask and keg.
“Lots of people tell us how important hops are in beer but we prefer to take a more holistic approach and think malt has an equally important role to play even in a ‘hop forward’ style such as this,” adds Sean.
Drinkers should expect a, “solid base with a hint of toffee, weight of alcohol and elements of grapefruit, pine and peach in the aroma.”
● Whispering Bob is available now – contact Robin Wright at Pig & Porter for details of where to buy.
ENDS
For further details, beer samples, or to arrange an interview please contact: Robin Wright on 07880 500843; or 01424 893519; or via email: robin.wright@pigandporter.co.uk.
High res images of Bob Harris with the Pig & Porter team are available to support this story via this link: http://s1376.photobucket.com/user/pigandporter/library/Private – password: ashburnham.
(To download look for the ‘Media Options’ menu, which should be just to the right of the bottom corner of each image, and click the link to download.)
Editors’ notes
1. Pig & Porter – was originally conceived as an event catering business that brewed its own beer but is now a fully-fledged brewery based in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
2. Inspired by the early adopters of the UK craft beer movement, it brews full flavoured beers with complex malt bases to balance the strong hop profiles.
3. Its beers include a low ABV summer pale ale, Crab and Winkle, six regular cask beers – such as Ashburnham Pale Ale (3.8%), Red Spider Rye, (5.5%) and Starvation Point Porter (4.5%) – and various seasonal offerings.
4. Pig & Porter cask beers are currently available in London and the South East and there are plans for keg and further bottle offerings, in the current sales area and beyond,later this year.
5. For sales enquiries contact Robin Wright: robin.wright@pigandporter.co.uk or on
07880 500 843.
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