HOBSONSBREWERYALMANAC

Thepastfewyearshavebeenonesof steadysuccesshereattheBrewery.Muchof it’sbeenduetotheincrediblesupportof customerslikeyou.Sothankyou!Notonlyhasthisyearseenthesuccessfullaunchof ourlatestblondbeerTwistedSpire,acaskalethat’scrossingtheageandgenderdivide,butwe’vealsobeensprucingupourlook.Ourlookhasbeenprettymuchunchangedforoverthirteenyearsorso,withthelaunchof anewbeer,itseemedtimelytogiveourselvesabitof afacelift.

You’llfindthisisabrief updateonwhatweareaboutandthebeersweproduce.If youwanttotalktousdirectlyaboutourbeers,ortastethefruitsof ourlabourcallusorstopoff atoneof the150pubsinthethreecountiesthatcarrytheHobsonsname.

HobsonsBreweryNewhouseFarm,TenburyRoad,

CleoburyMortimer,DY148RD

Tel:01299270837

Who’sHenry?

ANaturalCommitment

HobsonsWorld-BeyondtheBrewery

TheBrews

TheTrade

TheBrewersIdiom

TalktoHenry

CONTENTS

Who’sHenry?

HENRYISTHESPIRITof allthat’sbestinBritishBrewing.Fromhistrademarkhardhat,thecoke,tothebeardandtheworkersbuildallsuggestamanthatbrooksfewquestionsand

offersfeweranswers,lettingthebeerdothetalking.FormanyyearsHenryhasrepresentedHobsonsandproudlyadornedourcompanylogo,actingasthefaceof ourbreweryandbeer.

However,itwastimeforHenrytostepoutof thelimelightgivingusabitof afaceliftandhimawelldeservedrest.Hehasleftbehindhissimpleblackcokeandalegacyof nononsensequalitythattodayisourtrademark.

AtHobsonswearepassionateaboutwhatwedoandthebreweryisfirmlyrootedinourregion.Wearededicatedtoproducingouroutstandingbeersusingthefinestqualitylocallysourcedingredientsandthispracticehashelpedtosettheflavourof Hobsonsapartfromthecompetition.Ithasalsoplayedakeypartintherecognitionwehavegainedintheformof awardslikeCAMRAChampionBeerof Britain2007andCAMRAWestMidlandsStrongBitter2009.Ourcommitmenttosupportinglocalcommunitiesdoesnotendwiththesourcingof ingredients,wearepassionateaboutpromotinglocalpubs,businessesandcommunityspiritasawhole.YouwilloftenfindHobsonschampioningourpublicans,supportinglocalsportsteams,backinglocalbusinessesandenjoyingcommunityactivities.Stickingtotraditionalbrewingmethodsdoesn’tmeanweturnawayfromnewthinking,farfromit,wethinklesspeoplewouldbediscoveringthejoysof greatcaskbeerif wehad.And,althoughwe’reseriousaboutourbeer,weneverforgetthatgreatbeerisattheheartof agreatcommunitysoweaimtoenjoywhatwedoalongtheway.Overtheyearswehavedevelopedarangeof deliciousbrews,alluniqueinflavouryetcreatedusingthesamelocallysourcedingredientsandsustainabletechnologies.Manyof ourbeershavewonregionalandnationalawardsandwecontinuallystrivetocreatefreshandexcitingtastesensations.

OurlatestcreationTwistedSpire,avibrantblondbeerof 3.6%sitsatthelighterendof arangethatofferssomethingtosuiteverypallet.Sowhetheryoupreferarichporteroracrispgoldenalewearesurethere’saHobsonsforyou.

Caskbeerisanaturalproductthatneedstobeinperfectconditionforthebestexperience,soweaimtoonlydelivercaskstowithin50milesof whereweproduce.Theproof of thebeerisinthetastingandwithourself-imposed‘Caskin50’,spreadingthewordwideraboutwhythreecountiespeoplerateourbeerswasalwaysgoingtobeabitof aproblem.

Untilrecently,if youweren’tluckyenoughtoliveinGod’sowncounties,rarelycouldyouenjoythefruitsof Henry’steambutagrowingawardcabinetishelpingtospreadtheHobsonsmessagebeyondthecountyborders.Moreandmore‘purveyorsof quality’upanddownthecountrywhoshareapassionforgreatnaturalstuff arenowchoosingtosellourawardwinningbottledbeers.Brewedtothesameethic,inthesamewayandinthesamevesselsastheirbiggerbrothers,wearesureyouwillseeourbeersappearingmorewidelyinbottleform.

Intheend,whethercaskorbottle,wethinktherealchoiceof HenryandHobsonsisthatthereisn’treallyachoiceatall.If youwanttoenjoysomeof thebestincountrybrewingit’ssimplythenaturalchoice.

Sustainable Commitment

‘Whateverwedo,wewillalwaysstriveforbestpracticeinourbrewingandourproduction’

ANaturalCommitment

WE’RENOTjustpassionateaboutproducingthebestbeerswe’realmostevangelicalaboutthingsthatareregenerative,sustainableandlocal:Weprideourselvesonunderstanding

whatourcustomerswantandstickingtotheverybestintraditionalbrewing.Butwegetjustasexcitedaboutusingtheprinciplesof pastcraftsandthenfittingthemtothebestinemergingideasandmoderntechnologies.Wethinkthat’swhyourbeersstandoutsoclearlyandwinaccoladeswhereitreallycounts,intheglassandoutof thebottle.

Henry’s sustainable thoughts

Wegetbehindandsupportourregion,it’speopleandit’sresources,whetherit’smusicfestivalsorvillagecricket,workinginpartnershipwithcommunitiesandpublicansorpartneringvillageallotmentschemes,you’llfindthebreweryattheheartof itscommunity,

Wemakebestuseof allemerginggreentechnologiesandharnesstheenvironmentalassetswherewelive.Wecapturerainwaterfromtheextensiveroofsof ourbarrelandbottlestoreandutilisethisgreywaterforvehiclewashing,generalwash-down,handwashandtoiletflushing.

Wedon’tjustfollowotherswhenitcomestosustainabilitywealsocreateinnovativesolutionswheretherewereoriginallybarriers.

WaterHarvesting,Wind

PowerandHopRecycling

arejustsomeof theways

wemakebestuseof green

technologiesandthe

environmentalassets

wherewelive.

Forexamplewhenweweretoldtherewerenotechnologiestosimultaneouslyheatourbottlestoreandcoolourbarrelstoreutilisingagroundsourceheatpumpsystemwedesignedourownsolution.Forthepast3yearsnowwehavecreatedanimaginativeyetenvironmentallyefficientsystemthatrecoversheatfromthecoldstorewell.Fourboreholesweresunkprovidingaconstant11˚cof waterthatisthencompressedforheatorcoolingorboth.Itissoeffectivethatwenowheattheofficesusingthesamesystem.

Toenhancetheefficiencyof thegroundsourceheatpumpweinstalledan11kwGAIAWindturbine,aprettytwinbladedesignthatpowersaboutathirdof thebrewery’srequirements.Whentheturbineisusedtopowerthecompressorsthatprovideheating/coolingfromtheboreholesasuperefficientsystemiscreated.Evenfromthetopof CleeHillyoucanspotthespinningbladesof theturbine,soif yoursat-navfailsjustlookoutforourGAIAWindturbine.

Allof thetechnologieswehaveintroducedareworkinghardtoreduceourenvironmentalimpactandtodatewemakeareductionof 17tonnesof C02wasteannually.

We’recommittedtofindingnewinnovativewaysof makingourproductionmoresustainableandwithinourbrewhouselargeheatexchangersrecoverheatandwaterfromthecoolingpartof theprocessanduseitatalatertimewhenhotwaterisrequiredforthefollowingdaysbrew.Aswellaslargescaletechnologieswehavealsoembracedsmallchangesthatallcontributetosustainingourenvironment.Amongstthesechangesaretheintroductionof lightweightbeerbottlesthathavereducedourpackagingwaste.WearealsoworkingwiththeDesignCouncilonnewideasforrecyclingandproducingpackagingandfabricfromspenthops.

Inordertokeepourbeermilesaslowaspossibleweuselocallysourcedingredientinallof ourbeers.Wehavealsocreatedaself imposed‘Caskin50’rulethatmeansweaimtodeliverourcaskbeersnofurtherthan50milesfromthebrewery.Thisnotonlyhasenvironmentalbenefitsbutalsohelpsensureourbeersareenjoyedattheirverybesteverytime.

Whateverwedo,wewillalwaysstriveforbestpracticeinourbrewingandbottlingprocessesandwewillcontinuetobeinnovativeinthewaysinwhichwesupportourenvironment.

Wherever there’s beer and cheer there’s Hobsons.

We’reactivethroughouttheyearacrossthecountiessupportingourcommunities,sport,musicfestivals,choicechefsandandfoodevents.

Cricketgreens

StourportRowing

Choicechefs

BeyondTheBrewery

WepulltogetherintheStouportWorksFours,ourVillageCricketCampaigniskeepingthegameonthegreensandtheHobsonsrealalerunnertravelsaroundtheHeartof Englandthroughoutthesummermonths.OurWinterMusickicksoff withtheHobsonsHoptocelebratingAutumnHopharvestandHobsonsRootsRugbyensureswearestilloutsidewhentheclockschange.Didwealreadysaywerekeenonsupportingtheheartof ourcommunities?TheHeartof Englandishometogreatsport,someof thebestfoodinthecountry,wonderfulcountrysideandvibrantvillagelife.

Weuse‘merit’starstoshowourawardtallythroughtheyearsGoldforNationalAwardsSilverforRegionalawardsBronzeforOtherAwards

HOBSONS GREAT BEERSCollection.Series1

MILDBrewersNotesNo:1Asmoothdarkmild.

MILD

The lightweight, heavyweight contender. The National Champion beer that embodies the Hobsons art of brewing beers to drink well beyond their weight.Chocolate malt gives plenty of flavour and aroma which belies it’s strength.

CAMRAChampionBeerof Britain2007

CAMRAWestMidlandsMildof theyear2006

SIBAWalesandtheWestRegionalBeer

CompetitionGoldaward2008&2009

SIBAWalesandtheWestRegionalBeer

CompetitionGoldaward2007

CAMRAPeterboroughBeerFestival(Bronze)2008

CAMRAChampionBeerof WestMidlands

(3rd)2003

SIBAWestBeerFestival(Silver)2006

SIBAWestBeerFestival(Bronze)2004

3.2%

BEST BITTERBrewersNotesNo:2Richauburnale.

BEST

A pale brown to amber,medium bodied beer withstrong hop characterthrough -out. It’s a bitterbut with the unconventionalwarm tones of malt thatlingers on the palette.Crystal malt gives plenty of flavour and aroma which belies it’s strength.

RealAleTrailWinnerof theexpert’schoice2007

CAMRAWestMidlandsBeerof theYear2007

CAMRAWestMidlandsBeerof theYear2001

SIBAWestBeerCompetitionGoldaward2007

SIBAWalesandtheWestRegionalBeer

Competition(Silver)2008

3.8%

TWISTED SPIREBrewersNotesNo:3Afineblondbeer

TWISTED SPIRE

A unique beer with all-round appeal. With a sweet floral aroma, the initial fizz and sweetness gives way to a refreshing burst of hop flavour which lingers through to a crisp dry finish.

This beer is lightlycarbonated and best served at 8. ( degrees C not pm)

3.6%

RealAleTrailwinnerof thepeople’schoice2002

CAMRAWestMidlandsBeerof theYear2002

CAMRAChampionBeerof theWestMidlands2002

CAMRAWestMidlandsBeerof theYear(3rd)2005

CAMRAWestMidlandsBottledBeer(2nd)2006

CAMRAWestMidlandsBeerof theYear(2nd)2005

CAMRAChampionBeerof theWestMidlands(2nd)2004

SIBAWestMidlandsBeerCompetition–OverallChampionof the

Competition(Bronze)2005

TOWN CRIER

The hint of sweetness is complemented by subtle hop flavours, leading to a dryfinish.

TOWN CRIERBrewersNotesNo:4Crispgoldenale. 4.5%

4.2%MANOR ALEBrewersNotesNo:5Bitteramberale.

MANOR ALE

Brewed specially to celebrate Severn Valley Railway’s Manor Class steam engines. Severn Valley, one of Britain’s finest Heritage Railways, chose Hobsons for its integrity and commitment to its roots in the heart of England A crisp refreshing amber bitter with biscuit overtones.

RealAleTrailwinnerof theexpert’schoice2006

CAMRAWestMidlandsBottledBeer3rdplace2007

POSTMANS KNOCKBrewersNotesNo:4Crispgoldenale.

POSTMANS KNOCK

The combination of subtle flavour notes gives an initial rich sweetness leading to a velvety chocolate finish.

4.8%

OLD HENRYBrewersNotesNo:7Richauburnale

LudlowFood&Drinkwinnerof theexpert’schoice2006

CAMRAWestMidlandsBottledBeer3rdplace2007

CAMRAWestMidlandsStrongBitter2009

SIBAWales&WestRegionStrongBitter2009

OLD HENRY

The heavy, heavyweightcontender. The Regional Champion beer that embodies the Hobsons art of brewing beers to drink well beyond their weight. Complex malty flavours gives a richness, balanced by the clean hoppy finish.

THEKINGSARMS

5.2%

TradePartnership

SUSTAINABLEMEANSmorethansimplyrecyclingspenthopsorharvestingrainwater,we’llonlybesuccessfulif thebusinessesthatsellourproductsaresuccessfultoo.Thatmeanssustainablebusiness

withsustainablebusinesses.Livingandworkinginthesamecommunities,wehaveauniqueinsightintothechallengesof makingalocalcommunitybusinesswork.Runningtwoof ourownpubstoboot,wealsoknowthatmeansmorethanjustkeenpricing.

Sustainable Business from the Inside

Weputeffortintodevelopingnotjustaward-winningbeers,butbeersthatwillsatisfythedemandsof theCAMRAcognoscentiatoneendandthelight-beergenerationattheother.Putsimply,beersthatwillsellandproductsthatmatchcustomertrends.

Takeideaslikeourclearerlabeling;theclarityof strengthsencouragebrandrecognition,increaseawarenessandpromoteresponsibleconsumption.Thenthere’sthemarqueof allHobsonsbeers,theskillfor“brewingbeyondtheweight”,producingbeersthatdrinkheavierthantheirstrengthgivingbiggerbangforlessalcohol.Alottoswallow?Justaskanyonewho’striedourChampionBeerof Britain.HobsonsMild.We’vealsobuiltareputationforcomingupwithinnovativebeerslikeourlatestoffering,TwistedSpire.Bycombiningsomeof thebestbrewingmethodsfromaroundtheworldwe’vecreatedasingularproductwithabroadappealthat’salreadycausingarealbuzzwhereveritappears,bringingnewaudiencestocaskales.

Business Insight from the Outside

Sustainablebusinessisn’tonlyaboutbrewingtherightbeers,we’recommittedtoforgingworkingpartnershipsacrosstheentirethreecountiestohelpmakeprominenttheverybestthatourcustomersandourregionhavetooffer.OurCustomerPartnerProgrammeisanexampleof aninitiativewhichishelpingdeliverprofittothebottomline.ItoffersourcustomersproductsupportanddecentpricingpoliciescombinedwithjointPublicityandMarketingtohelpattracttherightcustomerstotherightplacefortherightexperiences.Thisincludesusingthebestindigitalmedia,listingsandPRinitiativestoattractconsumerattentionandhighlighttheverybestsellingpointsof Hobsonspartnerswhetherthatbesustainability,regionalfood,greatplacestostay,avibrantmusicscene,communitypubs,orpubmeccaswithanextensivelistof realale.

Combinedwitharaftof integratedoutsideeventsthroughouttheyearandabusyprogrammeof sponsorshipandcommunityactivities,theCustomerSuccessProgrammeprovidesextensiveopportunitiesforustoworktogetherformutualbenefit.Andwe’llalwayslistentonewideasforthebenefitof localbusinessorcommunities.

TheBrewersIdiom

BarleyAcerealgrainthatismaltedforuseinthegristthatbecomesthemashinthebrewingof beer.

CAMRACampaignforRealAle.Establishedin1971topreservetheproductionof cask–conditionedbeersandales.

CaskAclosedbarrelshapedcontainerforbeer.Theycomeinvarioussizesandareusuallymadeof metal.Thebunginacaskof realaleisusuallyventedtoallowthepressuretoberelieved,asthefermentationof thebeer,inthecaskcontinues.

Cask – conditioningSecondaryfermentationandmaturationinthecaskatthepointof sale.Createslightcarbonation.

Chill HazeCloudinesscausedbyprecipitationof protein-tannincompoundatlowtemperatures.Doesnotaffecttheflavour.

ConditioningPeriodof maturationintendedtoimpart“condition”(naturalcarbonation)warmconditioningfurtherdevelopsthecomplexof flavors.Coldconditioningimpartsaclean,roundtaste.

Dry hopping

Theadditionof dryhopstofullyfermented

beertoincreaseitshopcharacteroraroma.

Filter

Theremovalof designatedimpurities

bypassingthewortthroughamedium,

sometimesof diatomaceousearth(made

upof themicroscopicskeletalremainsof

marineanimals)yeastinsuspensionisoften

targetedforremoval,priortobottling.

Fining

Anaidtoclarification:asubstancethat

attractsparticlesthatwouldotherwise

remainsuspendedinthebrew.

Grist

Brewerstermformilledgrainsorthe

combinationof milledgrainstobeusedin

aparticularbrew.Derivesfromtheverbto

grind.Alsosometimesappliedtohops.

Hops

Driedflowerheadaddedtoboilingwortor

fermentingbeertoimpartabitteraroma

andflavour.

Malt (ing)Theprocessbywhichbarleyissteepedinwater,germinated,thenkilnedtoconvertinsolublestarchtosolublesubstancesandsugars.Thefoundationingredientof beer.

Mash tunAtankwheregristissoakedinwaterandheatedinordertoconvertthestarchtosugarandextractthesugarsandothersolublesfromthegrist.

RackingTheprocessof separatingthefermentedbeerfromtheyeastcellsatthebottomof thefermentingvessel.Alsothetransferof beerbetweenvessels.

Re-Racking BeerFinedbrightbeerthataretransferredintofreshcleancasks.Allowingimmediateusewithoutsettling.

Secondary FermentationStageof fermentationoccurringinaclosedcontainerfromseveralweekstoseveralmonths.

SedimentYeastmaterialatthebottomof thebottleformedasaresultof conditioningthebeerinthebottle.Notasignof badbeer.ShiveEnclosureusedtosealcasksafterfilling.

TunAnylargevesselsusedinbrewing.

Top – fermenting yeastOneof thetwotypesusedinbrewing.Topfermentingyeastworksbetteratwarmertemperatures,resultinginafruitier,sweeterbeer.Bottom-fermentingyeastisusedduringtheprocessof lagerproduction.

WortThesolutionof grainsugarsstrainedfromthemashtun.Atthisstage,regardedas“sweetwort”,laterasbrewedwort,fermentingwortandfinallybeer.

YeastAmicro-organismof thefungusfamily.GensusSaccharomyes.

TalktoHenry

Detailsof allourbeersandactivitiescanbefoundinHenry’sonlineofficeat www.hobsons-brewery.co.uk.

Fortraditionaltelephonecommunicationandgeneralenquiries:

Cleobury Mortimer (01299) 270 837

Wealwayswelcomevisitorstothebreweryfortours,wesimplyaskyoutocallaheadandbookononeof theregularlyorganizedtours.Detailsanddatescanbefoundonline.

Failingthat,youcanenjoyourbeersatover150of thebestpubs,restaurantsandclubsaroundtheThreeCounties

Asthelocalsknow,if youcomealongtoCleoburywe’llalwayssellyoubeerdirectlyatthebrewerystore,whetheryouwantfirkinsforfestivals,casksforchristeningsorHuberkegsforheveryoccasion

Finally,if you’renotluckyenoughtolivenearaHobsonsPubyoucanstillenjoyourbeersbybuyingbeersonlineat;

www. hobsons-brewery.co.uk.