A new Brummie-brand called Gypsy Brew has burst onto the UK’s craft beer scene, with the launch of its first beverage, Gypsy Water. The brainchild of two local friends and business owners – pub landlord, Gary Meads, and barber Al Smith – the latest brand is set to shake up the industry, bringing a taste of something new.
Produced in a quaint microbrewery on the site of Gary’s pub, The Coach and Horses in Weatheroak Hill, Gypsy Brew started as a pipe dream for Gary and Al; however, when the pandemic saw both of their businesses forced to cease trading during lockdown, the pair dived head first into bringing the brand to life.
Now having finessed their brew, having recruited the help of beer cicerone Rob Walker, Gypsy Brew has debuted Gypsy Water as its first bottled beer onto the market. Expertly hand-crafted, Gypsy Water is a classic American Pale Ale, combining a sweet citrus burst with a biscuity caramel, toffee base. A crowd-pleasing blend that is both sharp and sweet, Gypsy Brew has already received high praise from the likes of Sam Morgan, Group CEO of We are Craft, and Luke Tipping, Executive Chef at Simpsons Restaurant.
Gary, joint-founder of Gypsy Brew, comments:
“We are elated to have launched Gypsy Brew into the market with the debut of our first product, Gypsy Water. Creating the brand and our first beer has been a labour of love for Al and me, and while it hasn’t been easy, we’re proud to have brought something positive to fruition during the pandemic. Having worked on the Gypsy Water brew since last March, it’s both exhilarating and humble to be able to share it with Birmingham and beyond.”
The significance of the Gypsy Brew name is one that sits close to Al’s heart: descending from a long line of Romany Gypsies, Al created the brand concept to represent his family’s background paying homage to his ancestor’s rich experiences. This included his great grandad, who was a prominent bare-knuckle boxer in Birmingham in the 1920s. Having shared this vision for the brand with Gary and Rob, the trio worked to distil this story into the brew for Gypsy Water, crafting a beer that was traditional in taste, but still packed a punch.
Speaking about this, Al added:
“I’ve always been fascinated by brands’ stories and so when the opportunity came for Gary and I to bring our joint venture to life, it felt natural that we build our own heritage into the heart of it. Gypsy Brew is the telling of my Romany Gypsy lineage, told through products brewed at a pub that has been in Gary’s family for over six decades; it’s the perfect fusion of two Birmingham families’ stories, and we hope that it does our fellow Brummies proud.”
Gypsy Water is available to buy directly from the Gypsy Brew website, but will also be stocked at Artisan Street Kitchen, an innovative French-style street food van launched by acclaimed chef, Andrew Sheridan. Having fallen in love with the flavour of Gypsy Water, Andrew and the Artisan Street Kitchen team has started serving up the independent beer alongside their premium French dishes.
“We are so excited to be working with Artisan Street Kitchen, and we’re so pleased that they love Gypsy Water as much as we love their food! The Birmingham independent F&B scene is thriving, so it’s great to be part of it and collaborating with some fantastic local names already. We’re hopeful that this is just the beginning, so watch this space!” concluded Al.
Gypsy Water is available to buy from the Gypsy Brew website in packs of up to 24. Find out more about the brand, and its craft beer, Gypsy Water, here: https://gypsybrew.co.uk
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITOR
Launched in March 2020, Gypsy Brew is an independent craft beer based in Weatheroak Hill, Birmingham. Created by two friends, Gary Meads and Al Smith, the brand is named after Al’s great grandad who was a gypsy boxer in the 1920s. The team pride themselves on producing beer that strives for and achieves excellence across the board, all whilst sharing the heritage and story behind the brand’s name.
Gypsy Brew unveiled its first bottled beer, Gypsy Water, in December 2020. The American Pale Ale received a great response from customers and has since been served up by local hospitality businesses across Birmingham. The brand is set to launch its second beer next month, followed by another product lunch in summer.
Press release from East Village on behalf of Gypsy Brew
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