Cheers to the new Roosters Brewery, brewing up success with exciting things to come…
Pioneering Harrogate brewery Rooster’s teamed-up with the Harewood Food & Drink Project to stage a truly unique beer, food and music experience at its taproom on Hornbeam Park last month. My dad and I went along to find out more.
The dinner event, hosted by Pete Brown and Melissa Cole, two of the beer industry’s most knowledgeable and revered beer writers, marked the relaunch of an ongoing series of experimental, small-batch beers, known as the Outlaw Project.
An evening for all your senses
Each beer was expertly paired with the finest foods over a six-course dinner that has been carefully curated by the Harewood Food & Drink Project. The team at Harewood Food & Drink Project use produce grown, reared or foraged on the 4,500-acre Harewood Estate, from red deer to hogget we were in for a treat!
For each course we listened to a specially curated soundtrack, compiled by beer writer Pete Brown, to explore how sound influences flavour – bliss! Both Melissa and Pete shared their thoughts on the new beers and stories from the industry tying it back to the beers in hand.
Rooster’s expand with six new beers
The first six new beers launched under the Outlaw Project, which we tried on the evening included a German-style beer, a sweet stout and a range of American IPAs:
Monkey Tennis? (4.5% ABV)
With polenta making up 20% of the grist, Monkey Tennis? is a fruity pale ale brewed with the addition of orange peel and New Zealand’s Motueka and Rakau hops. Available in cask only. this was paired with a red deer fritter & orange peel condimont.
Slow & Low (3.1% ABV)
A refreshingly tart Berliner Weisse with zing flavours of fresh lime juice and spicy root ginger, and a hint of chilli pepper heat, leading to a crisp, mouth-watering finish. Available in keg and can. Perfectly balanced with ceviche sole, Berliner Weisse Leche De Tigre, green chilli, ginger oil and nasturtium flower.
Go Backer (3.6% ABV)
A scaled down Vermont IPA; soft, juicy and brimming with citrus fruit flavours, with a low hoppy bitterness overlaying a malty, sweet backbone. Available in keg and can. This beer went hand in hand with the Hebridean Hogget sausage roll with an apricot session ketchup. Peter explained to us about taste and how taste happens. Instructed to pinch our nose, take a sip and let go of our nose, he pinpoints the moment all the flavours of the beer go whizzing through you. It’s the moment you breath out – who knew!
Behind The Curve (6.3% ABV)
A full bodied, soft and mouth- coating New England IPA oozing juicy, tropical fruit flavours thanks to a blend of Chinook, Citra and Mosaic hops. Available in keg and can. Paired perfectly with a light katsu carrot, wild rice, topped with coriander and peanut oil.
Loud Noises (7.8% ABV)
A dry-hopped West Coast double IPA brewed with Amarillo, Cascade, Centennial and Simcoe hops that delivers a fruit laden mouthful of flavour. Available in keg and can. Loud Noises was heavenly with the free range chicken, sweetcorn, sage and leek.
Scoundrel (7.4% ABV)
Brewed with almonds, glacé cherries, raisins, sultanas, lemon and orange zest, nutmeg, cinnamon and lactose, the Scoundrel has a rich, decadent stout with a touch of sweetness and a luxurious mouthfeel. Available in cask, keg and can. Known as the Fat Rascal in the beer world, it really does taste like a Bettys Fat Rascal! Interestingly paired with a jerusalem artichoke cake and a beautiful dark chocolate cream and caramelised pastry.
Harrogate Brewer returns home
Rooster’s relaunched the Outlaw Project following the completion of its new state-of-the-art brewery and taproom at Hornbeam Park, seeing craft brewer return to our town where Rooster’s was first started 27 years earlier.
Alongside the main plant, which produces up to 5,000 litre brews, Rooster’s has invested in a smaller, 1,600 litre brewing plant. These smaller plants will help to create the Outlaw Project small-batch beers.
Tom Fozard, Rooster’s commercial director, said: “Rooster’s is known for its pioneering creativity and quality and, with the relaunch of the Outlaw Project, we’re looking forward to creating a range of exciting, flavour-filled, small-batch beers that bring something completely new and different to the market.”
Brewery open to the public
Yes, Roosters is open for you to pop down for a pint. Just a short walk from Hornbeam Park train station, the friendly Taproom offers a wide selection of Rooster’s beers for you to enjoy a stone’s throw from where it’s brewed. Open Wednesday and Thursday 4pm – 10pm , Friday to Saturday 12noon – 10pm and Sunday 12noon – 6pm.
The kitchen is open from midday on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, with a different street food trader joining us each week to serve up a varied and ever-changing selection of incredible food. Here’s who we’ve got coming up!
- 13th, 14th & 15th March – Get Wurst
- 20th, 21st & 22nd March – Little Bao Boy
- 27th, 28th & 29th March – Seitan’s Kebab
- 3rd, 4th & 5th april – Yorkshire Burrito
Competition time
You could win five fo the six new beers Rooster’s has brewed under its recently relaunched Outlaw Project. Closing date is Monday 16th March 2020. Simply fill out the form below and let’s keep in touch on email so don’t forget to tick that box.
Terms & Conditions
- Entries made after 12noon on Monday 16th March 2020 will not be included in the competition.
- Only one entry per prize draw/competition, per reader.
- The prize is five cans of Rooster’s Outlaw Project beer.
- The winner will be selected at random.
- All prizes are subject to availability, and The Harrogate Girl reserves the right to replace the prize with an alternative product of equal or higher value if necessary at the promoters’ discretion.
- Prize draws and competitions are only open to UK residents aged 18 years or over.
- The prize will be sent to the winner via recorded delivery. The Harrogate Girl does not take any responsibility if the prize is lost or stolen during posting.
- You can enter the competition using the form above or through The Harrogate girl’s Facebook page. If entering through Facebook please ensure you have followed the instructions.
- No purchase necessary.
- The winner will be notified by email or Facebook (using the details provided at entry) within two days of the closing date. Following such notification, the winner is required to send full details of their postal address to which the prize will be delivered.
- If The Harrogate Girl cannot: (i) contact the winner (via the details provided at the date of entry) within a reasonable period of time; or (ii) the winner does not reply to The Harrogate Girl within two days of notification that they have won the prize, The Harrogate Girl reserves the right to re-draw a winner of the competition and thereafter until a winner on these terms is found.
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P.S. This was a press invite in return for promoting the event and new Outlaw Project.
