- South London brewery Orbit Beers are due to release the 2023 edition of their Christmas ‘Kölsch’ – Jolly Saint Nico8% abv.
- A limited, festive edition of Orbit’s multi-award-winning, flagship Köln Lager Nico, with the addition of winter spices.
- Similarly to Nico, Jolly Saint Nico is now gluten-free as well as being vegan-friendly.
- A lightly carbonated beer to pair perfectly with Christmas dinner, and the ideal stocking filler for beer fans.
- Released on 6th November 2023.
London, October 2023: Jolly Saint Nico is an annual addition to Orbit Beers’ White Label Series range.
Produced in small amounts, white-label records are distributed by labels to DJs and radio stations to promote new artists and test the listeners’ reactions to their tracks. Orbit Beers’ own White Label Series is an ever-growing collection of one-off releases that explore the innovative, experimental side of their brewing; from Hefeweizens and Lentebocks, to seasonal sours, and Barley Wines. This White Label Series beer is brewed for Christmas, and Christmas only!
In search of a lighter Christmas beer option, the team at Orbit Beers decided to put a festive spin on their multi-award-winning Köln Lager – Nico – named after musician Christa Päffgen under her singing alias Nico, who hailed from Cologne (the city of Kölsch).
Nico offers a delicate balance of malt and hops that is synonymous with the Kölsch style, and a soft bitterness with a crisp, thirst-quenching, dry finish. As a lightly carbonated Kölschstyle lager that is traditionally brewed with ale yeast, the complex, fruity, malty flavours lend themselves well to the addition of well-balanced, festive spices.
Jolly Saint Nico pours pale golden with a fragrant, herbal hop aroma, lemon citrus, and seasonal clove. Light on the palate, a touch of bready maltiness, an assertive hop character, and warming flavours of nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, and allspice.
The light carbonation and dry, crisp finish make it the perfect beer to pair with your Christmas dinner. The subtle spices add a moreish, festive flavour to accompany cheese boards and mince pies over the festive season.
| Appearance: | Golden straw/pale |
| Aroma: | Fragrant herbal hop aroma with a hint of citrus and winter spices. |
| Taste: | Light clean, smooth, and dry with a crisp hoppy bitterness. A touch of bready maltiness, assertive hop character, and warming winter spices from the nutmeg, cinnamon, and allspice. |
| ABV: | 4.8% |
| Malts | Lager Malt, Dextrin. |
| Hops: | Challenger, Tettnanger. |
| Availability: | 33CL glass bottles, 30L kegs, 30L key kegs. |
| Food Pairings: | Mince pies, Comté, roast turkey, pork crackling, roasted chestnuts. |
Gluten-free & vegan-friendly
Orbit Beers bring a modern approach to European traditions. Taking classic styles and making them their own, with elements of finesse and drinkability.
Orbit Beers’ Nico Awards:
- Great taste* 2021 Great Taste *2023
- SIBA regional gold award for best premium craft keg lager 2022 (London & South East) SIBA national silver award for best premium craft keg lager 2022.
Unlike other lager styles, Kölsch is often considered a hybrid between a lager and an ale. This is because it is cold-conditioned, as a lager would be, but it is actually fermented using ale yeast. There are over 20 breweries in Cologne (Köln) producing Kölsch, and to protect their brewing heritage, there is a law in place that states your beer cannot be called a ‘Kölsch’ unless it’s brewed within the Cologne metropolitan area.
That’s why Orbit’s flagship beer Nico is called a Köln Lager rather than a Kölsch (despite being brewed with a Kölsch yeast).
Where to buy
Jolly Saint Nico and Nico are available in 330ml Vichy bottles from Orbit Beers online store and various independent bottle shops. They can also be found on draught in various pubs, bars, and restaurants supplied direct or via wholesale.
For trade enquiries please email sales@orbitbeers.com
Orbit Beers: Case of 12 – £31.50, case of 24 – £59.50 https://orbitbeers.shop/products/jolly-saint-nico
https://orbitbeers.shop/collections/orbit-beers-full-range/products/orbit-nico-koln-lager
Christmas at Orbit Taproom
Orbit Beers are going fully festive at the taproom this year. They’ll have their wonderful Christmas
‘Kolsch’ Jolly Saint Nico on taps and in Christmas gift packs, as well as Christmas roast dinners from Award-winning Smokehouse Kitchen Cue Point LDN (as seen on Saturday Kitchen) every Sunday from mid-November.
Cue Point LDN will also be offering a 1-3 course festive menu at the taproom available to groups of 6 or more throughout November/December. Full menu details can be found here.
Join the Orbit Beers team at the taproom on Thursday 30th November for their taproom Christmas Market and a night of festivities. Local independent drinks suppliers will be selling Christmas-ready gifts, they will be local mince pies from the famous Toad Bakery, and Jolly Saint Nico will be on the taps along with festive live music.
Christmas Market – Thursday 30th November from 6pm
Orbit Beers Taproom, Arch 233 Fielding St, Walworth, London, SE17 3HD Shop, eat, drink, enjoy!
-Ends-
Website: http://www.orbitbeers.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orbitbeers/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/OrbitBeers
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OrbitBeers/
For all media enquiries, images, and samples requests please contact:
Contact: Rachel@orbitbeers.com
Jolly Saint Nico/Christmas at Orbit imagery available for download: https://adobe.ly/46KyjBh
Notes to Editors
About Orbit Beers:
Orbit Brewery and Taproom: 225 & 228 Fielding St, London SE17 3HD Closest Stations: Elephant and Castle, Kennington, Oval.
Ethos
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.
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, winning multiple awards for their core range and infamous Tzatziki Sour.
Story
In 2012, Orbit Beers Founder Robert got in his campervan and set off on a journey to visit every single brewery in his native Scotland. It took him from the northernmost island in Shetland to the Outer Hebrides, the Scottish Borders and even his hometown of Dundee.
On a trip to discover great beer, he also discovered great people! And realized that the brewing industry was home to a wonderfully warm and passionate community that he wanted to be a part of.
With an overwhelming desire to start up a brewery of his own, Robert headed back home to South London to find a team of like-minded people who shared his enthusiasm for beer, brewing, and music. Bringing those elements together under the railway arches in Walworth, Orbit Beers was born in 2014 and began to build its now award-winning portfolio of beers.
Team
Brought together by our passion for good beer, we’re a team of music lovers, vinyl collectors, DJs, and musicians with decades of experience in the brewing industry between us.
We moved into our double railway arch in the heart of Walworth, South London in 2014, and since then, all our beers have been brewed and packaged on-site. To keep up with demand, we have expanded into the neighbouring arches and installed a new brewing kit to improve and maintain quality and consistency.
For all media enquiries, images, and samples requests please contact:
Contact: Rachel@orbitbeers.com
Third-party news items that are posted on the Guild website’s news section come from press releases received by the Guild. These press releases are posted as they have been received and their publication on the Guild website is intended as an informational service provided to our members and website visitors. As such, the publication of a story from a third-party source is neither an endorsement of the content, nor its sender, by the Guild. For enquiries on any news item, please use the contact details that can be found at the bottom of each post.