Are you ready to raise a glass to the crisp, vibrant glories of autumn? Then look no further than Brewers Garden, our very special community beer! This light and vibrant 4.2% pale ale is more than just a seasonal offering; it's a taste of the wonderful community spirit we cherish here at Stroud Brewery. Available for a limited period in our taproom and selected pubs around Stroud, or to order and collect, this beer embodies our commitment to connection: with one another, with nature, and with what we eat and drink.
The brewing of Brewers Garden is rooted in a collaboration with local gardeners and allotment holders who form our dedicated Hop Club. We provide them with free hop plants, which they nurture throughout the summer. As the summer draws to a close, they bring their homegrown harvest back to the brewery for our annual Hop Picking Day. This event is a joyful flurry of activity where the freshly picked hops are prepared for the brew.
It’s a truly convivial occasion full of chat, laughter, and, of course, a few beers. The day draws in not only our devoted growers but also enthusiastic volunteers who simply love to lend a hand, soak up the atmosphere, and meet interesting people.
Brewers Garden itself is a carefully crafted pale ale boasting a complex and inviting profile
featuring notes of pine, peach, and blackcurrant leaf, underpinned by a subtle, refreshing
bitterness. At 4.2%, it is beautifully balanced, and the perfect session-able pint to enjoy on a cozy autumn evening.
We know our Hop Club members – and the helpers - cherish being part of the brewing magic. Some have been involved since the beginning, when the first batch of Brewers Garden was made in 2009.
Nick Quayle, who has been growing hops for the brewery since that inaugural year: “It’s such an enjoyable and sociable event to be part of. And I enjoy watching the hop plant grow during the summer – after 15 years, it’s now very well established in my garden and grows up the side of my house and onto the roof!”
Russell Ashfield appreciates the social side of the event: “There are a lot of us who come every year but we don’t see each other from one picking day to the next. We get the opportunity to catch up with everyone’s news and chat whilst we’re preparing the hops.”
Paul Bingle, who received his plant as a thank-you for a donation to our pandemic crowdfunding appeal, highlights the beer's unique cycle: “I like the circularity of it – growing and nurturing the plant, harvesting the hops, and then drinking the beer at the end! It’s different to growing vegetables as I know that lots of other people will be enjoying the end product, not just me. It’s become an autumn tradition.”
This year's effort culminated in a grand total of 75.75kgs of green hops being prepared and if you’re local to Stroud, you can enjoy Brewers Garden in our taproom, or it’s available to order and collect directly from the brewery. Don't miss this chance to raise a glass to a truly special beer: one that’s grown close to home with love, connection, and minimal food miles.
As a highly demanded annual special edition, it won't last long, so be sure to secure your share of this autumnal favourite soon!
