Arkell's launches American pale ale

Swindon brewery Arkell’s has launched an American pale ale while announcing a £100,000 investment in its already established Malthouse Craft Lager.

The firm, which recently celebrated 175 years of brewing, has bought four new tanks to improve the capacity and brewing process of the two specialist beers.  

Each one of the new tanks can hold 7,000 pints and had to be specially installed at the brewery, being lifted into position in the first-floor fermenting room.

It was the idea of head brewer Alex Arkell, who studied brewing in the United States and in Munich, Germany. 

“There is a change in the industry at the moment,” he said. “Keg, filtered beer sales are up against the more traditional ales which we are known for.

“While we are still selling and making great volumes of our cask ales, we are seeing a tremendous growth in our new beers and specifically our keg lager. We are able to brew a very good lager using Cotswold ingredients but to meet demand and future-proof the brewery we’ve made this great investment."

The new tanks will also aid the production of Voyager, the brewery's new pale ale. It relies on late hopping to get its American style, and is described by Mr Arkell as a “...recipe and flavour for the new drinker.”   

The Amercan pale ale, Voyager, is inspired by a 19th century Arkell who was a farmer. Times were hard in British farming so he upped sticks and voyaged to the uninhabited plains of Canada to build a new farm and a new life. 

He returned to the UK in 1833, and soon after built the Victorian brew house, now home to the new tanks.

Alex Arkell said: “Voyager was first released only in bottles last year, another area of brewing we are seeing a rise in popularity in. 

"This could be for a number of reasons and I think the lockdown added to the interest as we were all drinking from bottles and cans. We were operating a delivery service during this time and were inundated. 

"The beer was so popular we made the decision to brew it on draught as well, and so far it’s been as much of a hit in the pubs as it was at home. The new fermenting tanks are an investment in our brewing capabilities and will enable us to become future-proof so that we are still here in another 175 years.

Further information about the brewery and its beers  can be found at https://www.arkells.com/