May 6, 2012

Odell Brewing Announces Thornbridge Collaboration

Press Release

Pond Hopper – A Brewmance
Odell Brewing and Thornbridge Brewery create transatlantic collaboration brew

Fort Collins, CO. – On June 8, 2012 Odell Brewing will release Pond Hopper Double Extra Pale Ale, a new beer crafted with the UK’s Thornbridge Brewery. The collaboration brew will debut this year at SAVOR: an American Craft Beer & Food Experience in Washington D.C.

The project was inspired several years ago on one of Doug Odell’s frequent trips to the UK. In 2008, Doug landed at the Thornbridge Brewery of Bakewell. Intrigued by stories of UK craft breweries creating unique and hoppy styles, Doug found himself in the company of kindred brewing spirits. Two years later, Doug returned to Thornbridge and brewed a collaborative batch of beer, similar to Odell’s Red Ale, there. The recipe, dubbed Colorado Red was brewed with English malts and intensely aromatic English hop varieties.

Pond Hopper label

Fast forward to February 2012 to find a reciprocal collaboration brew at Odell Brewing. Caolan Vaughan, head brewer and production manager of Thornbrigde, ventured to Fort Collins to brew Pond Hopper with Doug and the Odell Brewing crew. Brewed with English malts, and American hops (plus one Australian hop in honor of Caolan’s homeland), Pond Hopper features the best ingredients each country has to offer.

“This beer has a rich golden color with aromas of grapefruit, orange pine, and ripe melon,” said Doug Odell. “The overall impression of the beer is balanced with accentuation of hop flavor and aroma over bitterness.”

Pond hopper boasts a 8.9% ABV and is bottled in 750mL cork and cage finished bottles. It will be available throughout the brewery’s ten state distributor region and in the UK. Watch the Pond Hopper video:

More: ,