Humpty Dumpty Brewery are proud to announce the launch of our new speciality beer, Wherryman's Way IPA, a classic golden India Pale Ale at 7.4% alcohol by volume.
Wherryman's Way IPA is brewed in the American pale ale style, which pays homage to the original strong but light-in-colour English ales that made the journey from Burton-on-Trent to Bombay, with a combination of locally grown Maris Otter pale malt and caramel malt for a deep golden colour with a refreshing dry flavour. Hopped with a combination of Target and Centennial hops and then dry-hopped in the cask with more Centennial and Simcoe hops, the beer is full of a funky citrus hop character like many of its cousins from across the pond.
Produced with the blessing of Norfolk County Council, the beer is being launched to help promote one of our best-kept secrets - the 35-mile Wherryman's Way long-distance footpath, open since 2005, which winds its way from Norwich to Great Yarmouth through beautiful Broadland scenery. We are donating a portion of the proceeds from every bottle of Wherryman's Way to the Council for the upkeep of the signage and benches along the way.
We at Humpty Dumpty Brewery are enthusiastic users of the Wherryman's Way, which passes through our home village, Reedham. Our end-to-end walk in 2008 saw us visit no fewer than 12 pubs along the way, many of which serving our real ales. We are delighted to see that since our walk Coldham Hall has re-opened, and note they now serve a fine pint of Reedcutter. We hope to see the Woods End Bramerton re-open soon as well. With 12 pubs across 35 miles, you can imagine that this makes a pretty acceptable weekend pub crawl! You can stay at Loddon and Reedham and there is camping at the Reedham Ferry.
We are also pleased to note that we are launching our new IPA in conjunction with the launch of a new guide to the Way by BBC Look East journalist and blogger Steve Silk. Steve's new book, The Wherryman's Way: A Guide to the Long-Distance Footpath provides copious details and anecdotes about the countryside along the Way, gathered during his five years of research.
We really hope we'll see you at the launch, where you'll also be able to visit the mill, which is currently being restored and is
expected to be fully operational by Christmas. This is a great opportunity to see the work in progress and talk with the volunteers who have been a part of this major project for the past 19 years!
Wherryman's Way is a big beer - perfect for celebrating a day's walking through our beautiful Broadland scenery. Come out and enjoy a fine day on the Broads.
We're launching our new Wherryman's Way themed items together at a special Open House Sunday at the Hardley Windmill on Sunday, June 6th from 2PM - 5PM. Steve Silk will be signing copies of his new book and we'll be selling our new beer both in special 660ml bottles and on draught, with samples available. We'll also have something lighter on offer for the drivers, and there will be nibbles. You can get there by boat, by bus or on foot (there is no parking near the mill, but the Hardley Mill folks will be running a shuttle bus from the Langley with Hardley Village Hall (NR14 6AD)), or you can walk in the half mile from nearby Hardley Staithe.
