On Wednesday, August 21st, Batemans Brewery had the pleasure of welcoming Dan and Phil from Blue Monkey Brewery for the return leg of their 2024 collaboration. Dan, the Head Brewer at Blue Monkey, and Phil, one of their Lead Brewers, joined forces with Buster from Batemans to create an exciting new brew: Curious George.
Curious George got its name from one of Blue Monkey’s Directors, Ian, who spotted the simian link between experimental brewing and Bateman’s founder!
This collaboration has been brewing for weeks, with Dan, Phil, and Buster meticulously working on the recipe to achieve the perfect balance. Their goal was to blend a Saison yeast with the complex aromas derived from a new terpene extract.
Terpenes, which are found in many plants and are the primary components of essential oils, play a significant role in the hop aromas that define many beers. The team’s challenge was to harness these aromas while integrating them seamlessly with the unique characteristics of a Saison yeast.
The anticipation for the resulting brew is high, with Buster offering an early glimpse into what makes Curious George special. “This is something unique,” he remarked, “with the Saison yeast providing a great contrasting base for the Columbus Cryo hops and the extract. They combine to create a deep citrus pine and sherbet aroma, complementing the balanced bitterness and the juicy malt characters.”
