The brewery is based in a couple of barns.
The sky certainly was burning when we visited, though the name comes from a song by The Jam, one of Woking's finest exports*. Apparently the lyrics fitted with what was going on at Dark Star brewery, Burning Sky founder Mark Tranter's former employer.
It's a 15 barrel brewery...
...though it does have a few features that set it apart from the ordinary:
There's a hop rocket for dry hopping
And the mash tun is equipped with rakes for mixing when lambic style turbid mashes are made
There are foeders for maturing beer
A coolship for making lambic style beers
And wooden barrels filled with beer slowly fermenting away.
They do cask, keg and bottled beers.
We got to try a few of the bottles and I was particularly taken with Recusant, which has more than a touch of Orval about it. I'll definitely be getting more of it next time I see it.
* Don't listen to London imperialist Des De Moor when he tries to claim Paul Weller.
Ha! London imperialists probably claim Kent as London, never mind Woking.
ReplyDeleteAt the outset those Burning Sky beers seemed sensational, when served in the top cask pubs. These days they get wider coverage but sometimes they have to compete with half a dozen beers in marginal cask outlets and seem a little less wonderful.
That's how it goes with cask.
retired martin
Certainly everything inside the M25 seems to be considered London now.
DeleteBurning Sky beers are indeed very good, Plateau is certainly superior to Hophead.
Hands off Kent!!!
ReplyDelete"Apparently the lyrics fitted with what was going on at Dark Star"
ReplyDeleteBlimey.
"Oh and by the way I must tell you
Before I sign off, that I've got a meeting next week
With the head of a big corporate
I can't disclose who, but I'm sure you'll know it
And the burning sky keeps burning bright
And it won't turn off till it's had enough
It's the greedy bastard who won't give up
And you're just a dreamer if you don't realize
And the sooner you do will be the better for you..."
Prophetic?
He certainly knew what was happening.
Delete