The Cuckoo has flown... The Driftwood Brews Again!
The Driftwood Brewery, St Agnes is brewing again. This is the first brew since the new owners took over in April 2007. Previously the micro-brewery produced a beer called Cuckoo, now it has created a new ale called Blue Hills Bitter, named after the hills that form the back drop to the brewery.
Blue Hills Bitter is a light session ale with the ABV of 4.2%. It has been brewed by Pete Martin formally the brewer of the award winning Bathtub brewery, but now brews exclusively for the Driftwood. His aspirations for the brewery is to create a range of ales, from a light hoppy golden ale for summer through to a dark winter porter. ‘I’m looking forward to expanding the success I had with Bathtub using the high quality equipment available at Driftwood, over the next year I want to develop a range of ales to compliment the other guest ales already on the bar’.
The first brew of Blue Hills bitter was launched at the recent CAMRA Christmas party which was held at the Driftwood Spars, St Agnes. It was well received and some important feedback was acquired for improvements on the next brew.
Blue Hills Bitter is only currently available at the Driftwood Spars. The Driftwood Brewery is also producing alcoholic Ginger Beer which appears to be going down a storm and can’t be made quick enough. Damon Rutland, the Bar & Restaurant Manager at the Driftwood Spars came across a recipe on the internet and has been tweaking it until he is now happy with the product. Damon sees the market for the drink growing with other outlets showing interest after it’s first public outing at the CAMRA beer festival in Falmouth last year. Damon explains how Furnace got it’s name, ‘Furnace Ginger Beer derives it’s name from the old Engine Houses scattered around the Cornish coast and at 4.5% puts a fire in the belly. Very refreshing served over ice with a squeeze of lime or in a cocktail with dark rum & bitters. Try it at the Driftwood or the Townhouse at Falmouth.’
Louise Treseder, General Manager is thrilled with the new products, ‘These are exciting times for us at the Driftwood, we have so much untapped potential here and we are beginning to find ways to release it. Both Damon & Pete have been important additions to the team here and they are continuing to add to the many Unique Selling Points we have at the Driftwood Spars. I’m already getting excited about our next project which is to get my brother’s prime beef from his farm on the plates in the restaurant’.
Micro Brewery & The Cuckoo Ale
A recent addition to the business is the microbrewery which produces their in house ale ‘Cuckoo’, named after the St. Agnes Legend: -
In times gone by St. Agnes folk believed that if they stopped the cuckoo from flying away in July it would be eternally springtime. So they built a high wall - the Giant’s Hedge. As they were laying the last course of stones the cuckoo flew away. St. Agnes has been known as ‘Cuckoo Land’ ever since.
Gordon in the brewery
Cuckoo Ale (ABV 4.5%)
Gordon Treleaven started brewing in 2000 in the brewery based in the former cafe across the road from the hotel. The original Old Horsebridge one-barrel plant has been replaced with a customised five-barrel plant. Pale malt comes from Tuckers of Newton Abbot and the hops are Fuggles. The current brew, Bluehills Ale, has been produced since January 2008.
The Driftwood Brewery, St Agnes is brewing again. This is the first brew since the new owners took over in April 2007. Previously the micro-brewery produced a beer called Cuckoo, now it has created a new ale called Blue Hills Bitter, named after the hills that form the back drop to the brewery.
Blue Hills Bitter is only currently available at the Driftwood Spars. The Driftwood Brewery is also producing alcoholic Ginger Beer which appears to be going down a storm and can’t be made quick enough. Damon Rutland, the Bar & Restaurant Manager at the Driftwood Spars came across a recipe on the internet and has been tweaking it until he is now happy with the product. Damon sees the market for the drink growing with other outlets showing interest after it’s first public outing at the CAMRA beer festival in Falmouth last year. Damon explains how Furnace got it’s name, ‘Furnace Ginger Beer derives it’s name from the old Engine Houses scattered around the Cornish coast and at 4.5% puts a fire in the belly. Very refreshing served over ice with a squeeze of lime or in a cocktail with dark rum & bitters. Try it at the Driftwood or the Townhouse at Falmouth.’ 
Louise Treseder, General Manager is thrilled with the new products, ‘These are exciting times for us at the Driftwood, we have so much untapped potential here and we are beginning to find ways to release it. Both Damon & Pete have been important additions to the team here and they are continuing to add to the many Unique Selling Points we have at the Driftwood Spars. I’m already getting excited about our next project which is to get my brother’s prime beef from his farm on the plates in the restaurant’.
Cuckoo Ale (ABV 4.5%)