Auckland bar Sweat Shop Brew Kitchen is cracking into Christmas with the launch of a special edition ‘Franklin Road Christmas Ale.’
Set to be unwrapped on December 1, the new brew will be ready to quench thirsts on the night the highly anticipated Franklin Road Christmas lights are officially switched on.
Attracting joyful Aucklanders right across the city, the Franklin Road Christmas Lights’ magical display inspired head brewer Rory Main to create something special.
“The inspiration for this brew came from the magic of our local Franklin Road, and this very special celebration of the joy of Christmas in the heart of our city,” Main says.
“We also wanted to pay tribute to our previous brewer, legend Mike Stimpson, who passed away earlier this year and used to make an annual Christmas Pudding Ale. We really wanted to keep that tradition alive,” he adds.
Franklin Road Christmas Ale is made with three different types of malted barley, one variety of hops, ale yeast, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and all spice. The brew takes one week to ferment and is then conditioned at a low temperature for three weeks to let the flavours infuse and develop.
Brewed in a classic English style, the sugars are released from the barley but aren’t fully fermented by the yeast. This gives the beer a sweetness that complements the spices and adds to the ‘Christmas Pudding’ flavours.
“Franklin Road is such a special time for friends and families at Christmas so we invite everyone checking out the lights in for a glass of our taste of Christmas. What better way to celebrate the festive season than over a nice cold beer!”
The Franklin Road Christmas Ale is a ‘brewers choice’ beer which are produced every six to eight weeks as a way to challenge the craft and experiment with new brews. The seasonal beverage will be available on tap from December 1 until it runs out.
For further information on Sweat Shop visit www.sweatshopbrew.co.nz or check out Sweat Shop Brew Kitchen on Facebook or Instagram @sweatshopbrewkitchen.
