(Note: Revolutionary Spirits will continue its follow up on the Great American Beer Festival in the next column, currently scheduled for November 23.)
Company
Laverstoke Park Farms is an organic/biodynamic (an interesting topic in its own right) farm in Hampshire, England, that was started by Jody Scheckter(company picture left), a former race driver, as a way to “produce the best-tasting, healthiest food without compromise for himself and his family.” He soon realized this meant eating a lot of the same thing, especially when a cow was slaughtered. So, he began making the products available to the public. Mr. Scheckter explains “We want to sell our food regionally and “from the field to the fork.” And currently, Laverstoke Park Farm does just that, selling what it produces, including cheeses, meats, vegetables, and ice cream (the best in the world, according to Mr. Scheckter). Where possible, they also create what they can on site, including their animal feed, fertilizer, etc. They even have a five acre compost site.
It is not surprising, then, that the Farm has also begun crafting their own beer and wine. Notably, Laverstoke’s beers, an ale and a lager, have won a couple of good taste awards in the UK, and also have made it into the notoriously discerning Campaign for Real Ale‘s (CAMRA) monthly selections. Part of what makes Laverstoke so interesting is that they grow most of the ingredients on its farm, including the hops, and given Laverstoke’s obsession with soil and nutrients (watch the video), that results in better tasting products. Sadly, aside from the beer, it appears that Laverstoke does not ship any of their other products outside of the UK. In the U.S., the beers will likely be available at most finer wine and spirits stores.
Beer - Laverstroke Organic Lager
This is a first for Revolutionary Spirits, as Laverstoke Park Farm is not a brewery in the traditional sense, and its label (see right) is certainly an indication of that. But, don’t be fooled, this bottle is very much an adult beverage. As mentioned, Laverstoke makes only two varieties, and I had the lager. What is most interesting about the beer is that it is a bottle conditioned lager, meaning extra yeast was added during the bottling process to encourage the creation of CO2 within the beer while it is in the bottle. This also means that the beer is continuing to evolve while in the bottle (it’s alive), and will likely have a bit of yeasty sediment at the bottom. All of this is rare for lagers, as they are usually clean and clear, with c02 added at the brewery.
The beer pours a golden yellow, slightly darker than a traditional lager, with a small amount, one or two fingers, of head. The smell of malt is very subtle, and somewhat reminiscent of a biscuit. Like its smell, the beer tastes of mild malt with a lot of overtones of fresh bread. The hops, too, are mild at the end. I can’t say this beer will redefine your thoughts on beer. However, it certainly is an interesting take on a lager, and its mild flavor make this beer a good entry-level beer (especially among British beers) for someone just entering the craft beer.
Beer Advocate: 3.36/5
Rate Beer: 2.8/5
Mac’s Untappd: 2.5/5
You can follow me on Twitter and Untappd @RevoSpirits.
