PRIMARY FLAVOURS

• Caramel
• Liquorice
• Coffee
• Malt

Story

Tucked away in Manchester’s Piccadilly Trading Estate, Cloudwater Brew Co rocketed onto the UK craft‑beer scene after being founded in 2014 by Paul Jones (and co‑founder James Campbell). Their brewing kicked off on Valentine’s Day 2015, a fitting start for a brewery destined to win hearts.

Cloudwater didn’t do “core range” beer: instead they embraced ever‑changing seasonal releases, from juicy NEIPAs and bold Double IPAs to creative stouts, lagers and experimental one‑offs. That bold approach paid off, within only two years they were named the 5th best brewery in the world by beer‑rating site RateBeer, becoming (as of that time) the first UK brewery ever to crack the global top‑ten.

One of their most influential moves came with the “V‑Series” of DIPAs, a monthly release schedule where each brew built on lessons from the last. This helped popularise hazy, hop‑forward beers across the UK and pushed Cloudwater into the craft‑beer spotlight.

Today Cloudwater keeps brewing brilliance alive, with a busy Manchester taproom, a now‑established venue on London’s Bermondsey Beer Mile, and an ever‑evolving beer calendar that turns every release into something to get excited about.

For January we are bringing you one of Cloudwater's gems, that hasn't made an appearance in their line-ups since 2022. Deep and satisfying, this fantastic brown ale combines rich, roasted malts with a delicate bitterness, creating a bold yet approachable profile. Layers of dark chocolate and caramelised bread lead into hints of pine and gentle spice, finished with a smooth, almost candy-like creaminess that lingers on the palate. Absolutely delicious!

PAIRING GUIDE

The team at Cloudwater brewery continues to impress with their characterful and unique craft beer output, and this American Brown Ale is sure to become a brand new favourite. By using a darker malt base, they’ve been able to bring out those warming, satisfying toasty flavours, resulting in a beer that’s just perfect for pairing with pub grub classics and all kinds of comfort dishes – think bangers and mash with onion gravy, lamb shanks and potatoes, chicken and mushroom chasseur or chicken Kiev with loads of garlic butter. Cottage pie, veggie lasagne, homemade smash burgers and whole roast chicken or duck with all the trimmings are also sure to hit the high notes.

RECIPE MATCHES

• Chicken and Mushroom Chasseur