Brewed & Reviewed: Wilde Child Brewing
The more we obsessively dive into the brewing industry here at Plus One Magazine via both our 'Triptick' and 'Brewed & Reviewed' series, the more we uncover some of the most passionate and creative brewers around. For this feature of Brewed & Reviewed I discovered such an individual brewing right under my nose, in Kirkstall on the outskirts of Leeds.
I
sat down with Keir McAllister-Wilde, the man behind Wilde Child Brewing, in a local beer garden to get the story of how he ended up
with this exciting new venture. We covered so many aspects of beer
and brewery life within the time it took to knock back a couple of
welcomed chilled ales...
Some
background
“I
was a little bit lost throughout my twenties, but now I'm so focused
with what I want to do... I can't switch off”.
A
yearning for travel and and a somewhat hedonistic lifestyle came to
an end when Keir decided to lay down roots on return from a trip to
South America. 2010 began a new chapter for this Leeds 'born and
bred' lad. One that he's happy to be continuing as an independent
brewer.
Like
most aspiring brewers, he began his beer production through the
basics of homebrewing kits. Never entirely satisfied with the end
result despite tinkering slightly with them as he went along. He made
the leap into all-grain brewing, purchased some better equipment, and
with his first brew done and under his belt in the Summer of 2011, it
was at that very moment he recalls knowing that this is what he
wanted to do with the rest of his life.
“... a
passion that's turned into a burning desire to constantly want to
achieve something better”.
Keir
gained his practical knowledge of the industry through
working as a brewer with a couple of well established names - Elland
Brewery and later, Saltaire Brewery
- while he continued to work on his own concoctions in his
garage-turned-microbrewery at home. Initially playing around with
styles and ingredients as he became familiar with his own set up and
production, he turned out simple pale ales, low on the abv's, but
persistently striving for that great taste and aroma of a really good
beer.
Currently
brewing
“As
I've changed and grown as a person, my tastes have changed and the
styles of beer I want to produce have changed with me, so we've kind
of gone on this journey together.”
Already
on the shelves of various local Leeds' stockists are his triple IPA
('Hopstosity' 10.5%), a doppelbock ('Creature Of Doom' 8.2%) and a
bourbon imperial stout ('Instant Hobo' 9%). Immediately you'll be
drawn to the fact that these are big hitting beers he's knocking out,
and ones that stand out in the crowd and are not lost in a sea of
sessionable low to mid-strength beverages. Like many of us, his own
personal preference and palate has dictated a liking for something
bolder with bags of flavour and aroma as he's aged. That comes hand
in hand with a beer that is punching a heavier weight and it's
something that has just come about naturally for Keir rather than
being a preconceived idea of wanting to produce such high strength
beers.
“The
only problem and barrier you can come up against with such
big-hitting beers, particularly in cask format, is sometimes buyers
don't want to touch anything above 6 or 7 %...”
Not
that he is restricting himself to only producing beers with such a
hefty abv. As we sit here at The Bridge Inn in Kirkstall, he informs
me that he has a more easy-going English single-hopped blonde ale
(4.6%) waiting its turn for the pumps down in the cellar. This
particular pub has taken Wilde Child's brews with the greatest of
pleasure, and Keir hopes to also make inroads into other
establishments who prefer to host a beer of a more average strength.
Moving
forward
“I'm
all about big, bold, heavy-hitting beers”
Wilde
Child Brewing's blonde ale ('Princess Warrior') aside, he has his
eyes firmly fixed on creating strong styles that are packed with
flavour. A black IPA ('Hades Beckons' 6.66%) is on the horizon. Along
with a red IPA of similar strength, and 'Hopstrosity's little
brother' which will be a double IPA at 7.2% named 'Social
Pariah'.
As
well as bottling these carefully crafted brews, he's moving into cask
territory to get them behind the bars of some of the popular craft
beer and food outlets in Leeds such as Bundobust. Plus a possible tap
takeover at Friends Of Ham. His eyes widen and the smile beams as he
lets me know his beer will be at some of the best known,
long-established homes to a wide diversity of ales in Leeds such as
Whitelocks and the newer, trendier places like The Belgrave MusicHall.
“It's
an honour to deal with such pubs that I've personally held with such
high esteem over the years..”
Leeds
is where it's at
“Leeds
is a great place to live, look at it...I mean business is booming,
it's thriving, and being a part of the beer industry - well, I
wouldn't want to be anywhere else to be perfectly honest - I want to
support the city, the people, and do my bit to help put it firmly on
the map”.
We
know that Leeds already has some fine breweries, wonderful bars, and
a forward-thinking approach to craft beer. It's an exciting time to
be living here and clearly Keir feels Wilde Child Brewing fits in
nicely and has hopes and plans to be a major part of its future. He's
currently holding down a day job to earn a living and brewing around
the clock where time allows. when I asked him where he'd like to see
himself in twelve months time, he hopes to achieve the status of
brewing full-time to solely generate his income. It certainly doesn't
seem to be an unreachable goal!
“At
the end of the day I'm not about being loaded or mega rich. You're a
richer man if you truly enjoy what you're doing in life. I love the
days when I'm brewing... I'd love to be doing it full time... and if
I was to achieve some recognition it would maybe put some
insecurities of mine to rest.. and being able to pay the mortgage and
bills!”.
Frustrations
and other thoughts
“Brewing
blends three things that I hold close to heart... the science element
to it all, being able to be creative, and obviously the beer itself.
You've got to multi-task when brewing beer and it can go tits up on a
regular basis. Brewing beer is a bit like having a relationship...
you can have your tiffs with one another but you still love each
other and are together again at the end of the day”.
Talking
to Keir and getting his perspective on the trials and tribulations of
an up-and-coming brewer, is as enlightening as it is fascinating.
Passion for the industry and the part he is playing in it, is at the
very core of what should undoubtedly be a hugely rewarding journey
for him and Wilde Child Brewing. His boundless levels of enthusiasm,
alongside an overwhelming urge to be as creative as possible, heralds
some exciting times for us consumers. For him personally, if he can
make that leap into full-time, then growth and expansion is surely a
given. He happily flies solo, and covers all aspects of his business
personally. From the recipe designs and the brews themselves, to the
logo (fresh, young and eye catching), as well as a huge amount of
time given to thoughts on naming his products, the label designs etc.
Personal delivery of the bottles, casks and kegs is also somehow
weaved into the time-taking equation. He once drove to the home of a
customer with a single bottle who had had a problem with a 'gusher'
with the offer to replace it for him. Now that is commitment.
“I
just love beer so much!”
I'm
sure you'll join us in wishing him well. We can't wait to catch up
with him further down the line, to see how it's all going.
Words: Pete Jackson
Photography: Robin Chamberlain
e-mail: robin@83photography.co.uk
official: http://www.83photography.co.uk/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/83Photography
In
the time between our chat and this article being written up, Wilde
Child Brewing is now a full time operation. Here's an update from
Keir..
"I
was pushed into a situation where I found myself without the
temporary job I was doing and so decided to do Wilde Child full time
on an interim basis. I have been very busy this past few weeks and
sales are rolling in. Long may it continue."
---------------------------------------------------------------
Wilde Child beer review
'Creature
Of Doom' Doppelbock 8.2%
 |
| Photo credit: Pete Jackson |
As
a general fan of hops hops and more hops, I was a little apprehensive
about the Doppelbock 'Creature Of Doom'. Not a style I'm that
familiar with but upon opening the sweet malty smell was luring me
in. This is a beautifully poured beer, with a terrific colour to it.
A good firm head with lasting qualities right down to the bottom of
the drink. Quite enjoyably chewy, with sweet tastes of caramel and
liquorice in there. The sweetness of the malts is in no way tainted
by the beer's strength. Yes the alcohol is very much present but at
over 8% this feels significantly lower in the mouth. Could well be my
favourite of the three samples here, we'll see.
'Hop Strosity' Triple IPA 10.5%
 |
| Photo credit: Pete Jackson |
This is a lively character. Full of charge upon opening and wishing
to make its way out of its bottled home into the glass. Pours a
lovely murky golden orange and the smell of the hops in here is
tantalisingly good. I let it sit a while to calm down and the huge
white foamy head settled to a regular centimeter or so. It became
much easier to drink too. Lots and lots of hits of tropical fruits,
sturdy as hell and chewy yet deceptively easy to drink for such a
high strength (There's a pattern emerging here!). Remember, this is
a TIPA! Not a regular IPA or even or double, although you would be
forgiven for sipping this one back a little too fast if you didn't
know. Hop Strosity's little brother is coming soon if this is too
powerful for your liking. I say 'man up' ladies and gents, and get
this one in.
'Instant
Hobo' Bourbon Imperial Stout 9%
 |
| Photo credit: Pete Jackson |
I do like a good stout, got to admit it. It hasn't always been a
palate pleaser of mine but over the years I've grown to love the
stuff. Instant Hobo is a hefty beast yet retains drinking qualities
of a beer much lower than its actual abv. Silky smooth, dark and rich
and initially quite sweet. There's eight different malts in this
apparently. The bourbon for me is much more to the fore than in
similar beers I've tried of this style. It doesn't completely override
the other textures in here but boy can you taste it! Poured
perfectly, retaining a creamy beige head. Not as thick as you might
expect this style to be. Perhaps more inclined to sip this beauty by
a roaring open fire in the depths of winter rather than under
today's rare glimpse of a British Summer. If you like your stouts
whisky-laden then this is a must.
Words - Pete Jackson
Wilde Child Brewing official
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Tel: 07908419028 for keg, cask, or bottled beer
enquiries.
Words - Pete Jackson
Wilde Child Brewing official
Tel: 07908419028 for keg, cask, or bottled beer
enquiries.
