Two of Nottingham’s brew industry experts are delighted with the success of their recent event, the launch of their collab beer, ‘Ripples’, to fundraise for Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust’s current Wetland Appeal.
Customers joined Castle Rock Brewery, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust and Murphy & Son for the launch of their collab beer ‘Ripples’ last Thursday, raising just shy of £1,000 for the Trust’s current Wetlands for Wildlife in Nottinghamshire appeal. The appeal aims to raise at least £45,000 to support its efforts to reverse the decline of the county’s vital wetlands.
Castle Rock and Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust have a friendship that has spanned over twenty years, during which time the brewery has created over 155 unique beers for the Trust, helping to raise over £130,000. More recently, local supplier to the brewing industry Murphy & Son have also partnered with the Trust, as part of their efforts to reduce their emissions to net zero and help wildlife along the way.
The three organisations brewed ‘Ripples’ together, with the intention of creating a cleaner, more sustainable beer. Murphy & Son worked with Castle Rock’s Pilot Project brewer to provide technical support with ingredients, process aids and optimisation, enabling maximum efficiency and minimum wastage while making an amazingly tasty beer.
The beer was brewed with Kveik yeast, a Norwegian strain which is rapidly building a reputation among brewers for all the right reasons. It ferments at a higher temperature, meaning less energy is used to cool the beer as it spends significantly less time in tank. The golden ale also used UK hops, lending a traditional aroma and crisp, dry bitterness while also ensuring a lower carbon footprint opposed to styles using international hops often shipped from New Zealand or the US.
Castle Rock’s Pilot Project, a small-scale brew kit used chiefly for research and development, was used to brew the beer. Developmental Pilot Project Brewer Danny Pearson said, “Working with Murphy & Son on this beer was brilliant. Along with products we wouldn’t usually have access to, they brought a technical expertise that we hope to apply on our main kit to improve sustainability on a larger scale.”
Ripples was launched in cask at a sold-out event in August in the Vat and Fiddle’s Old Cold Store, next to Castle Rock Brewery. The evening included a legendary Castle Rock quiz hosted by Al Needham, a raffle made up of amazing prizes donated by generous local businesses and culminated in an auction. The auction winners walked away with a brew day experience on Castle Rock’s Pilot Project kit, the same kit used to brew ‘Ripples’.
Castle Rock previewed two videos on the night, explaining the beer and brew process in more detail in one, and highlighting the importance of the Trust’s Wetland Appeal in the other.
To read more about Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trusts’ Wetlands for Wildlife in Nottinghamshire appeal and why they are raising £45,000, visit https://www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org/wetlandappeal
‘Ripples’ is a traditional-style pale ale brewed with UK ingredients and is available in cask while stocks last at the Vat and Fiddle. 50p from every pint is donated to Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust.
For more information or to watch the videos shown on the night, visit castlerockbrewery.co.uk/news/ripples.