W J King (Page 2)

   Brewery's own website www.kingfamilybrewers.co.uk

      

The first impression of the plant was the efficient layout and the extreme cleanliness of the brewing area.  The whole operation gave confidence that it was producing quality products - and we were able to check this for ourselves at the samples bar!  It was also a great opportunity to see the process up close and ask questions, and the enthusiasts who gathered there were not slow to take advantage of such a chance.

We had previously enjoyed Horsham Best, Old Ale and, my particular favourite, Red River during visits to Kings' own pub, The Lamb Inn at Lambs Green, Rusper, near Horsham.   (If you've not been there, do give it a try - they do excellent food, as well as having Kings' current beers on offer.)  However the main purpose of the visit to the brewery was to try out  the new batch of Merry Ale.


Chris checks progress at the mash tun . . .




. . . before he gets surrounded by enthusiasts keen to learn his secrets.


Can't you just smell the malt!


Here comes the wort

Individual bottles of Merry Ale (6.5% abv) come in a presentation box, decorated with Dickensian Christmas scenes to set the mood.  As it's bottle-conditioned you need to let it stand and pour carefully if you want to avoid sediment in the glass, which might cloud the copper-coloured body under a creamy head.  There is fruit in the aroma, which also hits you in the initial taste - a bit like chunky marmalade.  This changes in the mouth to a smoky bitterness which lingers pleasantly.  This beer  is a very pleasant addition to the festive fare, and you can look forward to  savouring it slowly during one of the quiet, quality moments of Christmas.
And finally, for the benefit of any overseas visitors to these pages, we divulge the arcane arts which create  top English Ales.  The key is in the pagan rites enacted in the brewery.  These ceremonies, dating back to the Dark Age rituals of the ancient Celts, are designed to drive evil spirits from the brewery and bless the new batch of beer.  It is probably the first - and only - time these secret rituals have been captured on camera!

The first picture shows the clashing sticks, which should be enough to scare away the most determined evil spirits.  In the second, the dancers are using kerchiefs to waft the blessed scent of malt to the faithful waiting outside the shrine.

And if any foreign brewers wish to improve their beers with the benefit of this ritual, we're sure the Broadwood Morris would be only too pleased to oblige in exchange for their travellling expenses
    - and  a few beers!
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