By Jonathan Hatchman, Food Editor, @TLE_Food
Strength: 5.4%
Brewed: Tottenham Hale, London
Named after the old Cockney name given to the De Beauvoir area of London, where the brand was born in 2011, Beavertown Brewery now operates from a site in Tottenham Hale. Having upgraded to a premises with a 50HL Brew House to work from, Beavertown have become renowned for crafting a core range of stunning beers, as well as some more adventurous seasonal offerings – not forgetting the fact that the brewery boasts some of the most striking label artwork to adorn their cans.
Inspired by London’s Industrial Revolution ‘when smog filled the air and porter was the beer of the people’ – Beavertown’s ‘Smog Rocket’ smoked porter is brewed using an original home-brew recipe, and comprises a whopping blend of nine different malts. Unsurprisingly, with the malt blend and use of both Magnum and Chinook hops, ‘Smog Rocket’ has an incredibly complex flavour. Notes of espresso, dark chocolate, treacle and smoked wood chips on the nose continue onto the palate, with the addition of molasses, raisins and a caramel sweetness that continue into the finish alongside notes of vanilla and more dark chocolate. What’s most impressive, however is the exceptional balance that’s been achieved: with an underlying bitterness, sweetness and a hint of smoke that’s prevalent against the sweetness and bitterness, yet isn’t overpowering – unlike so many other smoked beers on the market.
Beavertown Brewery can be found at Unit 17-18 Lockwood Industrial Park, Mill Mead Road, London, N17 9QP and their full range can be purchased from beavertownbrewery.co.uk.