Looking to capitalise on surging interest in US craft beer, specialist world beer importer Euroboozer has rolled out the biggest range of US craft beers and ciders to ever land in the UK at one time.
Coming from a diverse selection of storied and iconic American craft breweries, an official ON-trade launch and tasting took place on the 22nd July at The Hop & Berry (209-211 Liverpool Rd, London, N1 1LX).
The initial ten beers and ciders to arrive on the first shipment come from acclaimed producers such as Harpoon from Boston and Bronx Brewery, Captain Lawrence, Butternuts and Doc’s Cider, which are all from New York. (See full brewery and beer details in editor’s notes).
Euroboozer is partnering with American export company, Crafted Exports, in this dynamic undertaking designed to deliver superior quality American craft beers to the discerning UK drinker.Crafted, a New York-based exporter, employs a temperature controlled supply chain and state of the art quality control to ensure the exceptional beers are consumed at peak drinkability.
Euroboozer founder Martyn Railton quipped:
“America has some of the most unique craft beers, breweries and beer characters in the world so it’s great to be working with some of the best of them. Our American range has been seeing double digit YOY growth and with the trend for American food booming within the pub, restaurant, casual dining, street food and wider foodservice sectors, to use an American saying – I expect all these beers will knock it out of the park! With quality, freshness and consistency of paramount importance to the UK consumer, we’re proud to be bringing these US beers to the palates of UK drinkers – tasting exactly how they do in the States.”
Euroboozer
Started from the back of an old VW Bora in 2003, Euroboozer was set up by beer lover Martyn Railton, initially importing Austrian brands Hirter, Stiegl and Schremser. The company soon branched out into the US market and 12 years on the VW Bora has been replaced with offices and a warehouse in Hertfordshire.
The company delivers direct to London and the South East and also works with a close network of sub-distributors around the UK. While much has changed since the company was started, Martyn and the company’s passion for finding, building and distributing a unique range of speciality beers where quality is king remains the same.
For further information on Euroboozer’s American range or to stock, please call 01923 263335 or visit www.euroboozer.co.uk
Editor Notes
Beer descriptions, tasting notes and food matches
The breweries arriving and being showcased exclusively by Euroboozer include:
Harpoon, Boston
One of the founding fathers of the east coast American craft beer revolution, Harpoon was started in 1986 by Dan Kenary, Rich Doyle, and George Ligeti. They were three friends who loved beer and loved drinking beer together but found the beer choices at that time to be limited. After traveling through Europe and experiencing the rich traditions of European brewing, they decided to build a brewery so that they could brew the beers that they wanted to drink, and invite their friends to the brewery to drink it with them. Harpoon’s New England IPA and their iconic UFO White will be the first of the beers to launch exclusively in keg format in the UK.
In 1993, Harpoon pioneered IPA brewing with this New England classic. It began as a summer seasonal and people absolutely loved it so it was made a year-round beer, and it’s now Harpoon’s bestselling beer and flagship. A New England-style IPA finds harmony in the combination of hops, malt and yeast so that no single ingredient dominates the drinking experience. The blend of malt provides depth in body and colour and is balanced by a pleasantly hoppy finish.
UFO White was introduced in 2009 and since then the Harpoon brewers have been hand-grinding the spices used in the beer to insure proper consistency. All that hard work is paying dividends as UFO White is Harpoon’s fastest growing beer style. Light, crisp, refreshing, UFO White follows in the tradition of spiced wheat beers that have been brewed in Belgium for well over 300 years.
Bronx Brewery, The Bronx, New York
A small team with a big mission, the Bronx Brewery was set up in 2013 with one aim – to craft the absolute best pale ales on the East Coast of the US. Solely and maniacally focusing on this one style, the Bronx beers initially available in the UK include the Bronx Session IPA and the Rye Pale Ale.
- BRONX SESSION IPA – ABV: 5.0%
This easy-drinking, yet wonderfully hoppy session IPA has loads of tropical fruit – guava, passion fruit and ripe mango – on the nose and a refreshingly tart, red wheat malt finish to its clean, light body.
- BRONX RYE PALE ALE – ABV: 6.3%
Malted and flaked rye make up nearly a quarter of the grain bill for this Rye Pale Ale, offering it a unique and intense spicy rye flavour and golden-orange hue. Chinook and Crystal hops lend a gentle bitterness and spicy, piney and herbal character and aroma to this rich, bold rye beer.
Captain Lawrence, Elmsford, New York
An award-winning craft brewery located just north of New York City, the brewery is owned and run by head brewer Scott Vaccaro, a home brewer since 1995 who went on to train in brewing science at UC Davis. Strongly influenced by traditional Belgian ale styles, often with an American twist, the beers now available in keg include the Freshchester Pale Ale and the IPA.
- CAPTAIN LAWRENCE FRESHCHESTER PALE ALE – ABV: 5.5%
One of the first beers brewed by founder Scott Vaccaro after moving out to California to begin his brewing education was a Pale Ale. This version is a true testament to the influences the Wild West had on his early brewing. This is an aromatic beer with notes of citrus, pine and a noticeable bitterness plus a touch of a malty backbone to help balance out flavours.
- CAPTAIN LAWRENCE IPA – ABV: 6.5%
A very well balanced I.P.A with a lighter, softer touch, this favourite is still packed with hops, hops, & more hops. This beer is brewed using only the finest US grown hops from out West. With a robust hop aroma from the dry hopping process this beer delivers on its promise to provide a full sensory assault on your taste buds.
Butternuts, Upstate, New York
“All I want to do is make good old beer”. These ten words were uttered in a stupor by Chuck Williamson five years ago. Now on his converted dairy farm nestled in the idyllic Butternut Mountains of Upstate New York, Chuck is creating a brewer’s utopia and opening a can of whoopass on the craft beer world. Chuck’s range now available in 355ml cans and keg in the UK includes Porkslap Pale Ale and Moo Thunder Stout.
- BUTTERNUTS PORK SLAP PALE ALE – ABV 4.3%
Porkslap Pale Ale is brewed with 2 row North American barley and English crystal malt. The beer is flavoured with crystal hop and a touch of fresh ginger to create a distinct flavour only a porkslapper can love. At 4.3% abv this beer is designed to have a good ale flavour and a crisp mild finish.
- BUTTERNUTS MOO THUNDER STOUT – ABV: 4.9%
This stout beer pays tribute to the Butternuts Brewery’s former life as a dairy farm. It’s a more drinkable version of the stout breed than its traditional ancestors. Moo Thunder uses lactose sugar for body and mouthfeel; not too strong, not too viscous at 4.9% abv. Unlike a true bovine it has a malty, roasty aroma with a huge hit of chocolate and coffee plus a dry finish.
Doc’s Cider, Upstate, New York
Started due to an abundant apple crop, Doc’s has become one of America’s best ciders since opening their doors in 1994. Located in New York State’s Hudson Valley, Doc’s strives to make ciders that are as unique as the apples they grow. Now available in kegs, and soon in bottles, Doc’s Hard Apple Cider and Dry-Hopped Apple Cider are made with 100% pressed apples sourced from their farm.
- DOC’S DRAFT HARD APPLE CIDER – ABV 5.0%
A semi-dry and wonderfully effervescent cider with a remarkably fresh apple nose. Its crisp, fruit forward taste and clean, refreshing finish have won the cider countless awards and praise.
- DOC’S DRAFT DRY HOPPED HARD CIDER – ABV 5.5%
This is one of the most wonderful and unique ciders to launch in the UK. Dry-hopping with Centennial and Chinook hops creating citrus and floral notes not found in a traditional cider. A pure treat for beer lovers and cider drinkers alike.
