4 PINES - THE BASTARD CHILDREN OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

THE BASTARD CHILDREN OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

March 18th 2015 has seen the launch of our latest Keller Door release ‘The Bastard Children of the British Empire’, this release follows the journey of the humble Pale Ale across five countries and around the globe.

The story of Pale Ale represents the story of civilisation itself, of culture and evolution. To tell the story of this journey we pulled together 6 unique beers, with 6 unique flavours, each paying homage to its country of origin – England, America, New Zealand, Australia, Belgium and Sydney’s Northern Beaches for 4 Pines own take on an American style Pale Ale of English heritage, brewed in Australia. Along the way we acknowledge how each nation embraced the style and crafted their own version.

For 4 Pines Brewing Company, The Bastard Children project has been a labour of love. It stemmed from the desire to highlight and educate how one style can be so different, depending on its environment, the brewer and the ingredients used. The variety of pale ales featured in The Bastard Children release allows drinkers to taste the nuances between each, knowing they’ve been hand crafted to traditional recipes and served up with love.

Click this link to purchase the Mix Bastard 6 Pack

ENGLISH IPA

“THE FIRST BASTARD”

It took a brave man to board a ship in the 1790’s, but it took a smart man to load barrels of beer. The subsequent voyage of English Pale Ale to India was hellish for all on board except this strong, highly-hopped brew crafted to endure such an undertaking. George Hodgson’s Bow Brewery was the nearest to the docks in London & therefore ‘ale of choice’ for the East India Trading Company.

6.0% ABV, 47 IBUS

Robust in flavour with subtle aroma of raisins and British herbs, this English IPA combines both traditional floor-malted Marris Otter and copious amounts of famously-earthy English hops.

BELGIAN PALE

“THE FIFTH BASTARD”

To keep the Commonwealth troops happy during WWI, Belgian brewers began making a local variant of English Ale. This proved a little more difficult during WWII because the occupying German army had confiscated most of their copper vessels. Local beer therefore was in short supply so the British came to the rescue importing English Ale. When hostilities ended the troops left but the taste for the distinctly British Ale remained and the Belgian brewers with a love rekindled, began to make it their own once again.

5.6% ABV, 19 IBUS

Traditionally less bitter with a toasty malt sweetness, the famous yeast-driven phenolics produce a refreshing spicy and fruity character.

NEW ZEALAND PALE

“THE THIRD BASTARD”

Captain Cook set sail on his second epic voyage in 1772. And of course, on such a perilous journey he took beer-brewing equipment. It came in very handy when he brewed his first, purely medicinal drop on the South Island of New Zealand in 1773. Sourcing local ingredients such as parts of the Rimu tree, and copious amounts of molasses, it was a far cry from the tasty brews coming out of New Zealand today. But you’ve got to hand it to Mother Nature, her soft-water streams and idyllic hop growing conditions are perfectly suited to making a great ale in the Land of the Long White Cloud.

5.0% ABV, 32 IBUS

This brew is straw-like and hazy in appearance, unfiltered and naturally-conditioned for one month in the bottle. Small amounts of carried-over yeast provide a distinctive fruitiness and plenty of vitamin B to help with hangovers in any cases of accidental overconsumption.

AUSSIE PALE

“THE FOURTH BASTARD”

Rum was the currency of Australia at the turn of the 19th Century. Quite literally, it was destroying the settlement. Governor Philip King needed a safer alternative so he asked the British Government to import hops and brewing equipment. When HMS Porpoise finally arrived, so did Australia’s thirst for Pale Ale. However, it was a slow start as the settler struggled to grow the hops in the harsh Australian climate; the first Australian-grown hops were finally cultivated in 1806. From these humble beginnings grew one of the cornerstones of Australia’s rich brewing history.

5.0% ABV, 32 IBUS

This brew is straw-like and hazy in appearance, unfiltered and naturally-conditioned for one month in the bottle. Small amounts of carried-over yeast provide a distinctive fruitiness and plenty of vitamin B to help with hangovers in any cases of accidental overconsumption.

AMERICAN IPA

“THE SECOND BASTARD”

After the War of Independence ended in 1783 America thought they had seen the last of the Poms. Fortunately they soon invaded again – but this time with beer. Tensions arose between German immigrant brewers, who made a weak, watery lager, and the country’s original craft brewers who championed the more flavoursome Pale Ale style. Ever since a beer civil war has raged, a conflict that has seen the Yankee craft brewers strive for bolder, hoppier beers born from that early Pale Ale style.

6.3% ABV, 70 IBUS

Boasting a full flavour and resinous musk, this aggressively hopped American IPA has assertive bitterness and distinctively American aromatics of citrus and grapefruit. Unfiltered to maintain the raw, tannic mouthfeel from the hops. Antioxidants galore!

4 PINES PALE ALE

“A BASTARD NO MORE”

“Where can we go for a decent beer in Manly?” Steve Mitchell asked his son, Jaron. That question was answered when Jaron and a crew of like-minded beer lovers opened the doors of the 4 Pines Brewing Company in 2008. And like the story of Pale Ale itself, the golden ale flowed from the brewpub in Manly to the thirstiest reaches of this great nation… Seeing 4 Pines Brewing Co. grow to be one of the largest true independent breweries in Australia in the process.

5.1% ABV, 35 IBU’S

A colourful deep Ruby Amber appearance. Aromas of Pine and Grapefruit overlay a malt background. On the palate full bodied malty flavours with a tight and bitter finish.

For more information on 4 Pines Beers check out http://www.4pinesbeer.com.au/