Crouch Vale Brewery
Encyclopedia
The Crouch Vale Brewery is an independent brewery
based in South Woodham Ferrers
, Essex
, England
. Its name is derived from its proximity to the River Crouch, and having been established in 1981, it is the oldest brewer in Essex, somewhat shockingly. They have a roster of regular draught beers which are produced year round, as well as several popular seasonal beers which are produced at certain times of the year.
Being an Essex
based brewery, their beers are most widely available in the South East of England but the popularity of the beers leads to them often being dispensed at beer festival
s in more remote locations. Despite their traditionalism, the brewers have a propensity for use of foreign hops
(largely from the U.S.
and Germany
); this is especially true of their seasonal brews, which can often be more 'experimental' than their regular ales, but no less popular.
The brewery's flagship
ale
is Crouch Vale Brewers Gold, and accounts for more than 50% of their total output. This particular beer, a 4.0% Golden Ale, was the winner of the Champion Beer of Britain
award at both the 2005 and 2006 Campaign for Real Ale
(CAMRA) Great British Beer Festivals.
Brewery
A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company....
based in South Woodham Ferrers
South Woodham Ferrers
South Woodham Ferrers is a town and civil parish in the borough of Chelmsford, Essex, England. It is approximately from London and, according to the 2001 census, has a population of 16,629. The town is located east of Fenn Creek, and near where it meets the River Crouch...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Its name is derived from its proximity to the River Crouch, and having been established in 1981, it is the oldest brewer in Essex, somewhat shockingly. They have a roster of regular draught beers which are produced year round, as well as several popular seasonal beers which are produced at certain times of the year.
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
based brewery, their beers are most widely available in the South East of England but the popularity of the beers leads to them often being dispensed at beer festival
Beer festival
A Beer Festival is an organised event during which a variety of beers are available for tasting and purchase. Beer festivals are held in a number of countries...
s in more remote locations. Despite their traditionalism, the brewers have a propensity for use of foreign hops
Hops
Hops are the female flower clusters , of a hop species, Humulus lupulus. They are used primarily as a flavoring and stability agent in beer, to which they impart a bitter, tangy flavor, though hops are also used for various purposes in other beverages and herbal medicine...
(largely from the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
); this is especially true of their seasonal brews, which can often be more 'experimental' than their regular ales, but no less popular.
The brewery's flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
ale
Ale
Ale is a type of beer brewed from malted barley using a warm fermentation with a strain of brewers' yeast. The yeast will ferment the beer quickly, giving it a sweet, full bodied and fruity taste...
is Crouch Vale Brewers Gold, and accounts for more than 50% of their total output. This particular beer, a 4.0% Golden Ale, was the winner of the Champion Beer of Britain
Champion Beer of Britain
The Champion Beer of Britain is an award presented by the Campaign for Real Ale , at their annual Great British Beer Festival in early August. Beers can qualify in three ways:...
award at both the 2005 and 2006 Campaign for Real Ale
Campaign for Real Ale
The Campaign for Real Ale is an independent voluntary consumer organisation based in St Albans, England, whose main aims are promoting real ale, real cider and the traditional British pub...
(CAMRA) Great British Beer Festivals.
Regular beers
- Brewers Gold - 4.0% Golden Ale
- Essex Boys Best Bitter - 3.8% BitterBitter (beer)Bitter is an English term for pale ale. Bitters vary in colour from gold to dark amber and in strength from 3% to 7% alcohol by volume.-Brief history:...
- Amarillo - 5.0% Golden Ale
- Blackwater Mild - 3.7% MildMild aleMild ale is a low-gravity beer, or beer with a predominantly malty palate, that originated in Britain in the 17th century or earlier. Modern mild ales are mainly dark coloured with an abv of 3% to 3.6%, though there are lighter hued examples, as well as stronger examples reaching 6% abv and...
Notable seasonal beers
- Brewers Gold Extra - 5.2% Golden Ale based on the award winning Brewers Gold, but stronger
- The Conkeror - 4.3% Autumn Ale, notable for winning the Cask aleCask aleCask ale or cask-conditioned beer is the term for unfiltered and unpasteurised beer which is conditioned and served from a cask without additional nitrogen or carbon dioxide pressure...
category of the AarhusAarhusAarhus or Århus is the second-largest city in Denmark. The principal port of Denmark, Aarhus is on the east side of the peninsula of Jutland in the geographical center of Denmark...
, DenmarkDenmarkDenmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
Beer Festival 2002; some way from Essex!