•Independent South London Breweries Orbit Beers and Anspach & Hobday have teamed up to create a beer for Woodfest 2022.
•The festival is organised by ‘The Society for The Preservation of Beers from the Wood’ (SPBW) that celebrates traditional beer styles served from wooden casks.
•Paul Spraget (Head Brewer Orbit Beers) and Paul Anspach have brewed a limited-edition 1861 Running Porter (5.3% abv) inspired by a traditional recipe to be served from wooden casks at the festival from 25th-28th May 2022.
The Beer
May 2022: Orbit Beers and Anspach & Hobday have joined together to brew an 1861 Running Porter for Wood Fest 2022. Inspired by a historical London brewery recipe from 1861, the Running Porter is designed to be served fresh and offers rich flavours from a combination of Pale Ale Malt, Brown Malt, and Black Malt, along with Lallemand London ESB Yeast.
This full-bodied Running Porter is dark, walnut brown with a frothy tan head. It presents aromas of malted milk biscuits, chocolate, and hazelnut, with a hint of freshly cut grass from the addition of UK Chinook and Bullion hops. Velvety malts, milk chocolate, and caramel sweetness on the palate, with a soft bitter finish and light carbonation.
Paul Spraget (Head Brewer) and Greg Stork (Lead Brewer) from Orbit Beers, joined Paul Anspach (Co-founder) and Dan Gambino (Lead Brewer) from Anspach & Hobday to brew the Porter together at Orbit Brewery in Walworth in April 2022. They were inspired by the traditional serve from wooden barrels to create something uncomplicated, classic, and packed full of flavour.
Orbit Beers are deeply rooted in European brewing traditions with a modern approach. They take classic styles and make them their own, which was their goal with the 1861 Running Porter.
One wooden cask of this limited-edition beer will be available at Woodfest 2022, and one cask will be served on 19th May at Anspach & Hobday’s venue The Pigeon in Camberwell. Another cask, along with bottles will be available on the bar at Orbit Taproom in Walworth, South London on the weekend of 20th May.
Originally, the Keeping style was the norm, but as demand grew, the Running style evolved to be served fresh, immediately after it was brewed. So this beer won’t hang around for long.
The brewers have kept back the final barrel to be aged and revisited at a later date – The ‘1861 Keeping Porter’.
SPBW Woodfest 2022
The festival is organised by ‘The Society for The Preservation of Beers from the Wood’ which celebrates traditional beer styles served from wooden casks. The aim of the society is to stimulate the brewing and encourage the drinking of traditional draught beer, drawn direct from the cask by gravity, by a hand pump, or by other methods approved by the National Executive Committee (this includes bottle conditioned beer). Although the Society does not specifically campaign for the use of wooden casks for beer dispense, it supports and encourages breweries and pubs that use them and coopers that produce them.
It is the only beer festival in the country that serves all its real ale exclusively from wooden casks.
The 3rd Woodfest will be held between Wednesday 25th to Saturday 28th May 2022 at the Turk’s Head, St Margarets, Twickenham.
Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.spbw.beer/woodfest-2022/
Ends
Notes to Editors
About Orbit Beers:
Website: http://www.orbitbeers.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orbitbeers/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/OrbitBeers
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OrbitBeers/
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.
His lifelong love of vinyl and independent labels has always been at the heart of Orbit Beers, forming the logo and influencing their brews. From the ‘White Label Series’ of experimental beers, to the core range named after music legends Nico (Christa Päffgen), 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.
About Anspach & Hobday:
Founded by childhood friends Paul Anspach & Jack Hobday, Anspach & Hobday launched in Bermondsey in 2014. Anspach & Hobday believe beer is about enjoyment and community. In 2019 Anspach & Hobday set up their Croydon Brewery following on from their 2018 crowdfund (542 investors, £525,250 raised, £3m valuation).
Following on from their 2021 crowdfund (869 investors, £661,262 raised, £4.9m valuation), Anspach & Hobday are set to double batch volume and efficiency, with a focus on supporting the demand and growth of their popular independent nitro porter, London Black.
Inspired by traditional styles and remade for the 21st-century beer drinker, Anspach & Hobday is known for its diverse range of beers. Brewing everything from historic ales and porters to experimental sours and IPAs. All our beers are vegan friendly and made using renewable energy.
Anspach & Hobday is best known for its flagship beer and award-winning beer, The Porter. The brewery epitomises London craft beer, bringing together tradition with modernity.
More About Anspach & Hobday – https://www.anspachandhobday.com
For all media enquiries, images, and samples requests please contact:
Orbit Beers Contact: Rachel@orbitbeers.com
Anspach & Hobday Contact: joe@anspachandhobday.com
SPBW Woodfest Contact: secretary@spbw.beer