Madagascan ‘Fair for Life’ chocolate brand Madécasse is teaming up with London brewery Tap East to create an ultra-exclusive chocolate beer to celebrate Chocolate Week from the 12-18th October.
While Tap East Head Brewer Jonny Parks is keeping the brew recipe and beer style close to his chest after months of experimentation, the one guarantee is that the beer will utilise Madagascan cocoa, which is considered by many experts to be the best in the world, and Madecasse’s unique flavour combinations.
The Choco-Beerfest will kick off on Thursday 15th October at 4pm at Tap East, Great Eastern Market, Westfield Stratford City, with the first pints of the beery-chocolate goodness being pulled at 7pm.
Madécasse Co-Founder Brett Beach will also be in the Great Eastern Market Kitchen to cook up some indulgent chocolate treats and there will be a free chocolate tasting, plus a chocolate and beer matching session also taking place.
Choco-Beerfest Schedule
Thursday, 15th October
– 4-5pm – Recipe demonstration – Madécasse tasting/sampling
– 7pm – Choco beer launch at Tap East
– 8pm – Chocolate and beer matching session
– 9pm – 11pm – gorge oneself on chocolate and beer – responsibly of course!
Brett Beach, Madécasse Co-Founder, said:
“The craft beer scene continues to generate interest around the world and I believe it is a major contributing factor in changing consumer perceptions and attitudes towards food. Craft beer has made people more discerning, experimental and look a little more closely at what they eat and drink. We see ourselves a little as the craft brewers of the chocolate world so it’s great to be teaming up with Tap East in this exciting adventure to showcase the best of both chocolate and beer.”
Tap East’s Jonny Park, commented:
“Quality of ingredients is always key when producing the best beer so hopefully with some of the world’s best Madagascan cocoa, coconut and coffee we can create some tasty brews to compliment Brett’s chocolate.”
Editor’s Notes
About Tap East
Set up in 2012 by the brains behind award-winning bar The Rake, Tap East has quickly gathered a cult following offering hundreds of brews from all four corners of the UK and the world. One of the few, if only breweries based in a shopping centre, this brew-pub produces regular favourites like Tap East Tonic Ale and East End Mild. Head brewer Jonny Park has been in charge of brewing operations for 2 years.
Tap East, 7 International Square, Montfichet Road, Westfield Stratford City, London, E20 1EE
Telephone: 020 8555 4467
Email: info@tapeast.co.uk
About Madecasse
Madécasse was founded in 2008 by former Peace Corps volunteers Brett Beach and Tim McCollum who worked as development volunteers and project managers on the tropical island nation of Madagascar. Inspired by their experience of living and working in the impoverished country, the pair set about to make a positive change.
Fair for Life – Looking to going beyond traditional fair trade, “Fair for Life” means that fair trade principles are applied throughout the entire chocolate trade chain, from cocoa farming to chocolate making and packaging. Madécasse works closely with local cocoa farmers, provides infrastructure and manufactures everything in Madagascar. This ethical bean-to-bar philosophy empowers local communities with four times more impact than simply exporting fair trade cocoa. www.fairforlife.net
The Chocolate – the “Exquisitely African” Madécasse range is made with Madagascar’s rare heirloom cocoa varieties which are considered by many experts to the best in the world. Imparting layers of nuanced flavours as rich and complex as those found in fine wines, chocolate bars such as Milk Chocolate Toasted Coconut, Espresso Bean, Salted Almond, Sea Salt & Nibs and an 80% Cocoa are available in 75g bars priced from £2.99. Tipped by Waitrose Kitchen Editor William Sitwell to be one of the big future food trends, Madécasse is “Fair for Life” certified and is now available in Selfridges, Waitrose and Whole Foods.
Madagascar – Uniting quality and sustainability in a chocolate has all the more value in Madagascar, an island nation that is one of the poorest in the world and is home to 15 per cent of the world’s plant and animal species. Cocoa trees and their hardwood shade canopies help protect the country’s incredible habitats and ecosystems (85 per cent endemic), famously showcased by David Attenborough on the BBC.
For additional information on Madécasse visit www.madecasse.com or follow us @madecasse
Sam Houston
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