What is Fieldwork?
A brand new series of beers highlighting the amazing breadth of global hop growing, showcased in our own true heritage beer format, cask.
Back in September 2017 we set foot in the fields of Yakima as we began our first-ever hop selection. Vast fields stretched across the land, filled with the promise of a future still then untold. Nine years on, this year marks the 10th annual harvest since we first went to origin to source our favourite lots, and we still feel the same excitement as we did back then.
Fieldwork is a return to the earth. A celebratory documentation of the journey from ground to grower to grain to glass. Back to where it all begins, working in the fields.
Beer begins far before we turn the brew house or take the first sip of a pint, but months, if not years before, by the skilled and hard working hands behind hop growing and cultivation across the globe. People we may never meet and know, but both with the same passions and craftsmanship in our hearts.
Hukins Hops
Last year we travelled down to Kent to visit Hukins Hops and return with fresh hops, and this year we made the same pilgrimage for our first cask in this series. We were welcomed back with open arms to get stuck in and hand pick our hops straight from their fields, before bringing them straight back in the van up to Manchester, and dosed into our brewkit that evening.
Independent brewing has always been hands on but it’s never been more hands on than when it’s fresh hop season. There’s an excitement, a buzz about the brewery as the van pulls up, full of bulging bags of bright green hops. Sticky hands and green dusted faces emerge as we gather round to savour the scents of this year's harvest. At once an ordinary ingredient addition, and a powerful moment of connection.
Cask Badges
When we said hands on, we meant hands on. Each cask of Fieldwork comes with its very own hand made cask badge made lovingly by everyone at Cloudwater.
Made from hand-sawn slices of the same telegraph poles that are used in hop fields, stretch the wire that hands the twine that hop bines grow up, we’ve cut, sanded and stamped each badge by hand so no two are the same.
The beauty of being a completely independent brewery our size means we can take the time to create these bespoke pieces for special releases ☺️
What does Fieldwork taste like?
80kg of fresh Bullion hops were harvested directly from Hukins' fields in the morning and added straight to our whirlpool that evening to capture every drop of aromatic hop oils.
Evoking memories of driving along country lanes on a crisp autumn day with the windows rolled down, this cask opens with comforting, moreish notes of toasted bread on the palate. Gentle hints of soft blackcurrant, subtle spiced orange, and a touch of honey-like sweetness from a rich, biscuity malt base, blend seamlessly into a beer we are immensely proud to craft with the amazing hops from Hukins.
Where can I find Fieldwork?
First pours of Fieldwork were at our Unit 9 Brewery Taproom (naturally) and across the road at our neighbours Track who hosted a cask-only harvest festival at their taproom. In addition, here's some confirmed venues and distributors for Fieldwork v1
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