- South London brewery Orbit Beers have released their English IPA on cask.
- Brewed with English hop varieties Jester, Emperor, and UK Chinook at 5.2% abv.
- Released on 8th March 2023, there are 18 casks that have sold to exclusive stockists in London and Southeast. (Listed below).
London, March 2023: Independent, South London brewery Orbit Beers are due to release their English IPA on cask on 8th March. This comes as part of their White Label Series range that explores the more experimental side of their brewing. Known for their European-style keg beers, such as their award-winning flagship Nico Köln Lager, and the weird and wonderful Berliner Weisse Tzatziki Sour, Orbit have decided to release a limited number of casks in March to see how receptive the London beer market is to this format.
Robbie Sykes, General Manager: “We have produced wooden casks in the past for events such as Society for Preservation of Beer from the Wood Festival and Craft100, but having such a talented brew team with experience gained in well-established, cask-focused breweries, we’ve decided to dip our toes in the water a little further this year and expand our offering.
“Our team have often taken inspiration from traditional European-style beers with cultural significance, so cask seems like a logical category to explore and allows us to supply some of the fantastic Cask-Marque pubs in London that we don’t work with as often.”
The English IPA is part of Orbit’s White Label Series range. Inspired by white-label records which are distributed by labels to DJs and radio stations to promote new artists and test the listeners’ reactions to their tracks. Orbit’s White Label Series is an ever-growing collection of one-off releases that explore the experimental side of their brewing for similar reasons.
“The gradual decline of cask in London over the years might be partly due to the rise in popularity of premium keg beers. And although CAMRA has tried to keep cask prices low for the average pub-goer, this might have led to cask becoming somewhat undervalued. The beer is fresh and it can be more labour-intensive to produce, so it should be seen as more of an equal to the keg equivalents. It’s vital that both front-of-house and cellar management teams work together to look after cask products and advertise them well so that more people can experience and understand the enjoyment of fresh cask beer.”
The English IPA
Head Brewer Paul Spraget (formerly of Mad Hatter Brewery) and Lead Brewer Greg Stork (formerly of Five Points Brewery) were inspired to make a traditional English IPA using modern UK hops. Originally brewed in keg in the spring of 2022, the team have developed the recipe further and decided the style would work especially well in cask due to its fruity character and long, lingering bitterness.
The English IPA (5.2%) offers strong hop flavours from a blend of three English varieties (Emperor, Jester, and UK Chinook) that give softer stone-fruit flavours on the nose and palate than the more traditional UK hops.
Enjoy notes of tangerine and pine with a long, moreish bitterness and aromas of freshly cut grass with hints of blackcurrant and strawberries and cream.
Vegan-friendly.
Where to buy
Casks will be available from 8th March at the following stockists:
Orbit Beers Taproom (on 8th March), Dog and Bell, Southampton Arms, Evening Star (Brighton), Shirker’s Rest, The Rake, Cask Pub & Kitchen, The Cock Tavern, Tapping the Admiral, The Hercules, Stormbird, and Disappearing Dining Club.
Contact sales@orbitbeers.com or the pub directly to find out when the cask will be tapped.
-Ends-
Website: http://www.orbitbeers.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orbitbeers/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/OrbitBeers
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OrbitBeers/
Notes to Editors
About Orbit Beers:
Orbit Brewery and Taproom: 225 & 228 Fielding St, London SE17 3HD
Closest Stations: Elephant and Castle, Kennington, Oval.
Established in South London in 2014, Orbit Beers are deeply rooted in European brewing traditions with a modern approach. They take classic styles and make them their own, with an eye for finesse and drinkability.
They love the incredible balance of German beers and the complexity of flavours that Belgian yeasts produce. They love hops, the spicy elegance of classic European ones, the zesty aromas of New Zealand varieties, and the fruity extremes of their American counterparts.
Orbit’s work is inspired by the ethos of their favourite record labels, who hold music and art above all else. Likewise, Orbit Beers accept no compromises when it comes to making their beer.
History of Orbit
In 2012, Orbit Beers Founder, Robert (or ‘Orbit’ as he is otherwise known), set off on a journey in his campervan (named Brian). His mission was clear: to discover beer in the land of whisky!
This expedition took him (and Brian) to every single brewery in his native Scotland, from the northernmost island in Shetland to the Outer Hebrides, the Scottish Borders and even his hometown of Dundee. The result was an overwhelming appreciation for traditional, European beer styles, balanced & complex flavours, and simple ingredients. That, and a burning desire to return to London and create Orbit Beers.
Back in the days when Robert was nicknamed Orbit, one of his earliest memories is his sister’s collection of vinyl records. In particular, the distinctive designs of the spindle adaptors, stacked above the turntable, ready to play.
Robert’s lifelong love of vinyl and independent labels has always been at the heart of Orbit Beers, with the spindle adaptor forming the Orbit Beers logo and quality music influencing their brews. From the ‘White Label Series’ of experimental beers to the core range named with musical influence; Nico (of the Velvet Underground), Ivo (Ivo Watts-Russel, Founder of 4ad records), Peel (John Peel), and Dead Wax (Run-out wax on vinyl records).
Having moved into our double railway arch in Walworth, South London in 2014, all their beers have been brewed and packaged on-site, which has now expanded into the arches next door to include the brewery taproom.
Press release from Orbit Beers.
For all media enquiries, images, and samples requests please contact:
Contact: Rachel@orbitbeers.com