Multiple winners of CAMRA's Champion Beer of Britain with the iconic Landlord in 1982, 1983, 1994 and 1999 and Boltmaker in 2014, not to mention a plethora of Silver awards, Timothy Taylor's is one of the UK's favourite breweries. Earlier this year, the brewery released its first canned beer - Hopical Storm. This marks another step in the traditional brewer's efforts to win over new fans and attract a younger, legal-drinking age audience.
Timothy Taylor's Hopical Storm is an ultra-refreshing, triple-hopped, sessionable pale ale at 4% ABV, full of juicy fruit flavours of mandarin, mango and passion fruit. Originally launched in cask in the on-trade, during summer 2019, the beer was then brought out in keg, but is now available as the first-ever canned beer from the Keighley brewer.
Chief Executive, Tim Dewey, explains further: "Hopical Storm is a characterful twist on the tradition associated with Timothy Taylor's. Having launched successfully in cask and keg, we recognised that Hopical Storm cans would be a logical extension to our range, as they would suit the style and flavour profile. The decision has been welcomed by retailers who see the potential for a refreshing triple-hopped pale ale in the off-trade that is more accessible than higher ABV beers in the category."
With a 160-year history of brewing in Keighley, West Yorkshire, Timothy Taylor's has a strong sense of tradition. The distinctive 'Taylor's Taste' is down to a combination of the pure, soft Pennine water from the brewery's artesian well, Golden Promise barley from Scotland, a unique strain of yeast over 1800 generations old and a blend of whole leaf hops.
However, for many years, the brewery has also been looking to the future with their micro-brewery, where they experiment with different beer styles using a variety of malts and hop varieties. You can read more about these beers here on The Write Taste.
Mixing tradition with innovation, it's no surprise that Hopical Storm is now available in cans. "This is a new approach for a brewery that was established in 1858", adds Dewey. "One thing that is never compromised, no matter how a Timothy Taylor's beer is presented, is quality. So, whilst Timothy Taylor's core business remains in cask beer, with Hopical Storm in can, drinkers can be reassured that they will still enjoy 'that taste of Taylor's' they have come to expect."
"Timothy Taylor's is an independent business that operates with honesty, integrity and consistency", continues Dewey. "We are committed to brewing quality beers, using only the best ingredients, for everyone to enjoy. The development of Hopical Storm is a great example of building and investing in quality, premium brands for the future. The evolution from cask to keg to can ensures that we can get this delicious beer in the hands of thirsty drinkers who want a refreshing beer wherever they are and whatever the occasion."
Hopical Storm is brewed using five UK-grown hops in three stages of hopping. Firstly, Cascade and Whitbread Goldings are used in the copper, then Cascade and Chinook are added at the hop back stage, before dry-hopping with Jester and Ernest. This is all combined with Timothy Taylor's natural Knowle Spring water, fine barley malts and the unique Taylor's Taste yeast to create the tropical storm of flavour and aroma.
Hopical Storm is vegan-friendly, wearing the distinctive Vegan Trademark and certified by The Vegan Society. It is presented in 440ml aluminium cans with distinctive orange branding that characterises the burst of fruit aroma and flavours. The cut-out silver lightning flash symbolises the beer's ability to strike thirst.
Appearance: Clear, pale gold with a small frothy white head.
Nose: Tropical fruit aromas with a hint of orange caramel.
Palate: Fresh and clean with juicy tropical fruit notes, citrus, (predominantly orange and mandarin), hints of malt biscuit and hay mid-palate, followed by a touch of grapefruit pith on the lingering finish.
There's plenty of flavour here with juicy hop notes and at only 4% ABV, without any aggressive bitterness, this is a refreshing beer for the summer and all-year round.
Food match: The tropical storm of flavour and aroma can be enjoyed as an unaccompanied refreshing drink. However, Hopical Storm is a perfect match for a range of different foods, including most pork dishes which pair well with the hops. The light fragrant flavours of South East Asian cuisine match the citrussy notes of the beer, whilst white fish and shellfish complement the acidity and tropical fruit flavours.
You can find Hopical Storm in selected Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Waitrose stores with a RRP of £3.00 per 440ml can.
