Everything You Need To Know About Liquorice Lads Stout. | Great Newsome Brewery
Liquorice Lads Stout – How It Began.
Liquorice Lads Stout began as a request from a very good customer, one Robert Copley, from the home of liquorice, Pontefract (home of the Pontefract cakes if you didn’t already know). Robert asked us if we could make him a liquorice beer as he was considering growing liquorice once more at his farm shop, Farmer Copleys. Up for a challenge, we said yes.
Robert gave us 3 things, liquorice root, liquorice treacle and liquorice powder, to try to get the real liquorice flavour in a beer. Firstly we looked at the treacle and it was too thick and gloopy. Even in hot water the treacle struggled to dissolve. Then we looked at the root, but the woody twigs required breaking up to get the flavour out, too much like hard work. Finally we settled on the powder. An infusion was made with the powder and hot water. The intention was to filter the powder from the hot liquorice flavoured liquor and add it to the beer however the powder had other ideas, constantly blocking up filters. So we reverted back to the liquorice root but used it pre-chopped instead.
How It Is Brewed.
Our dedicated brewing team start with a classic stout recipe made from a base of home grown pale ale (yes, we grow our own malting barley), black, crystal and wheat malt with a little flaked barley for mouth feel. The beer is flavoured with Northern Brewer hops, the first addition provides a mild bitterness and the second to add to the beers aroma. Fermentation using the brewery’s distinctive yeast, typically takes about 4 days before the beer is chilled and chipped liquorice root is added to add a depth of liquorice flavour.
See our online tasting notes video…click here.
What’s in the name?
A suggestion from the Copley family was to name it after the men who in days gone by dug the liquorice root by hand. Thirsty work! (If you need cold beer we’ve just the answer, follow this link)
Awards.
Liquorice Lads Stout is one of our most highly decorated beers. Winning World Beer Awards in 2017 & 2018 plus countless others. Check out our awards page.
How To Store And Serve.
We think bottles of Liquorice Lads Stout should be stored chilled but not cold before serving. Tip the bottle into your favourite beer glass creating plenty of foam. As the bottle empties tip the glass on a slight angle carefully emptying the bottle. Serving it from a cask then click here for our recommended best practise.
A Great Beer With Food.
Liquorice Lads Stout is fantastic with a range of foods both sweet and savoury. It works really well with rich hearty dishes such as a beef stew and dumplings or a rich vegetable casserole. Liquorice also pairs really well with chocolate, so try it with rich chocolate brownies or a chocolate fondant. If you’ve a great food pairing for Liquorice Lads Stout then let us know.
Available Everywhere.
Liquorice Lads Stout is available in both bottles and as a traditional cask beer. Bottles can be purchased, along with all of our other bottle beers from our online store , which now has reduced shipping charges and ‘pick and mix’ cases. If you’d like to become a stockist or would love it at your beer festival then please contact us.
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