Ep11 — FyneFest 2019: Hybrid Theory

You already know how much we love beer, wine and cider here at Pellicle. Something that also fascinates us, however, are hybrids—co-fermentations of beer with wine grapes for example, or blends of beer and cider, which is sometimes referred to as graf. These boundary pushing beverages aren’t just incredibly delicious, but within them also lies potential. Too often the worlds of beer, wine and cider are viewed separately, but I see them as three cards within the same deck. Hybrids provide each of these worlds with an opportunity to understand each other, and, hopefully, bring them closer together in the process. 

Take this episodes panelists, for example. Jonny Mills of Mills Brewing has caused a stir among hardened beer collectors with his incredible beer/cider hybrids, produced in collaboration with cidermaker Tom Oliver. At Duration Brewing in Norfolk, head brewer Derek Bates is inspired to use seasonal produce within his beers, and has previously made a grape must infused New England IPA with his friends at Verdant Brewing in Cornwall. And before he moved on from Beavertown, my Pellicle co-founder Jonny Hamilton was creating mixed fermentation beers incorporating grapes from Chapel Down winery in Kent. He even got to pour them in California at Firestone Walker’s Terroir Project—a festival of beer/wine hybrids.

In this panel discussion, recorded at FyneFest 2019, we dig into the world of hybrid fermentations, discussing their potential, who their prospective audience is, and why they are oh so delicious.

Host: Matthew Curtis
Guests: Jonny Mills — Mills Brewing, Derek Bates — Duration, Jonny Hamilton — Pellicle
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