Umbrella Brewing have announced the opening of their new brewery from the trio behind  East End bars Discount Suit Company and The Sun Tavern. Housed in a formerly fire-damaged Victorian industrial building in Holloway, north London, the company is dedicated to providing beautifully crafted, alcoholic drinks.

The team have created a refreshing ginger beer made from natural ingredients; fresh pressed ginger; hand squeezed lemon, cane sugar, malted barley, yeast and water. The product is brewed in small batches using great care to achieve the perfect balance of flavours, with a pressed ginger root sediment, and its fiery flavour, left in for a fiery kick. The result is a beverage at 5% ABV with a taste unlike any other.

The entire project has been entirely self-funded and a real labour of love for the group, having worked tirelessly on every aspect including the restoration of the original building, formulating the recipe, and all elements of graphic design and packaging artwork. 

The packaging and label aesthetic of the newly-launched ginger beer will constantly evolve through a series of collaborations with artists in the near future.  The current branding is inspired by the striking graphic designs on vinyl sleeves of the 60s and 70s. A style loved by all of the co-founders, the concept came about through Steve’s fascination with The Rolling Stones, who feature prominently in his record collection.

Umbrella Brewing Ginger Beer is available through distributors or you can order direct from the website. Current distributors include Nectar Imports, The Beer Collective, The Sun Tavern Off-licence and Bottle Shop, No Half Measures and The Real Al Collective.

Ginger Beer Tasting Notes: Appearance: cloudy, golden brown with light effervescence

Nose: candied lemon, fresh ginger

Taste: flavours of raw ginger, rich molasses, sharp citrus and a subtle hint of malt

Finish: an intense fiery spiciness, similar to chillies 

Overall:  The ginger is undoubtedly the lead character of the drink – but this is supported by the acidity of the lemon juice and a subtle sweetness that gives the drink length and body.  The sugar coats the mouth and helps to communicate the flavour of the ginger