Norland Beers (Halifax) & A Community Owned Pub (Hebden Bridge)
At the recent launch of Norland Beers new ale ‘Showcase’ in The Fox and Goose at Hebden Bridge, my taste buds were treated to a proper beer. This is a rich ruby coloured ale with lots of flavour and reminiscent of the ales of yesteryear. In a beer world packed full of ultra-hoppy IPAs and APAs it is refreshing to find a really drinkable ale that showcases British hops to give a deeply satisfying flavour.
The pub where this launch took place is an interesting place, it is the first community owned pub in West Yorkshire and on the 20th March 2104 after over 2 years of hard work the Pub was secured by the Community. They have a good range of hand pulled ales; I noted 7 pumps and importantly no lager on draught. The Fox & Goose Summer Beer Festival 2015 will be held over the Spring bank holiday weekend from Friday 22nd May through to Monday 25th May.
Norland Beers have a relatively small range of beers that are more tradition, however these are often ones that have fallen out of favour for one reason or another but are highly drinkable, and as they say are the ones they lie to drink.
It was set up the business in June 2014 by Joe Cox and Paul Danielson, they are hobby brewers who make a brew about every 6 weeks. They produce their beers at Oates Brewing Co as they do not have their own premises. Their first beer was Barnstormers, a bitter, launched in September 2014, followed by Moorish Mild and Best Bitter. The latter which I sampled at its launch at the Ring O’Bells in Halifax last month.
Words - Simon Kimberley
