We smashed it this year – harvesting a record-breaking 94kg of hops! That’s nearly double last year’s 54kg.
Enjoy a beer in your garden, from your garden. The beginning of October
marks the annual release of Stroud Brewery’s 4.2% community pale ale,
Brewers Garden. What makes this beer unique is that the hops used in the
brewing process are grown by members of the local community in their own
gardens and allotments. Every mid-September, the team of local growers
gather at the brewery to hand-pick their hops for the brewing of Brewers
Garden. Two to three weeks later, local pubs, including the Stroud Brewery
Taproom, welcome the beer on their taps.
Since 2008, Stroud Brewery has been brewing Brewers Garden each year. Every
September, the Hop Club gathers in Stroud Brewery’s Balcony Bar to tackle and pick the mountain of hops they have spent the year growing in their own gardens and allotments. This tradition started when one of the brewery’s loyal customers offered to grow hops after seeing the small hop garden at the old brewery. Since then, the Hop Club has grown, attracting new members, and Hop Picking Day has become a cherished tradition at Stroud Brewery. The day often includes catching up with other members over a beer, coffee, and food while listening to performances from local musicians.
“I always look forward to Hop Picking Day. It’s a chance for us here at Stroud
Brewery to do something fun with our community. We love sharing the process of
beer making. Coming together to harvest the hops that the members of the Hop Club have grown over a beer and a bite to eat is a good way to mark the turn of the seasons. Plus we get to create a really tasty beer.” said Greg Pilley, Stroud
Brewery’s Managing Director.
Brewers Garden will be available in several pubs across the Stroud District over the next week. Enjoy a pint of this fruity pale ale, knowing it’s been flavoured with hops grown just around the corner from you. If joining the Hop Club is something you might be interested in, contact Stroud Brewery who provide new members with a free hop plant in spring time ready for next year's harvest.
