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Monday 14th November 2011
Don't worry we haven't forgot about the website, just been very busy!
Hopstar Brewery Opens Its First Ever Brewery Tap
Yes that's right we have a bar in the centre of Darwen now. It is called Number 39 - Hopstar Brewery Tap. For more information and new offers please look at our page on Facebook.
It has been up and running for a few months now and is doing very well. There has also been guest Ales on from Lytham brewery and there are many more to come.
Pop in anytime! The bar is open from 12noon till late everyday. There is also a range of Continental bottled beers too.
Monday 4th April 2011
Check out our article in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph about the National Award.
Congratulations Hopstar!
http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/darwen/8946556.Darwen_microbrewery_scoops_silver_award_for_its_stout/#commentsList
Thursday 20th January 2011
Local Brewer Scoops National Award
Hopstar Brewery took the Silver Medal Award in the National Stout category at the National Winter Ales Festival Manchester, with Smokey Joe’s Black Beer. A beer that has won multiple awards and is described as a “Black beer with a bag full of character. Slightly smokey with tonnes of chocolate in the finish, a real chocoholic’s dream come true.”
Owner and brewer Natalie Tyson said “To win any award is good news but this is a big one, for a little micro-brewery like Hopstar to get the award over the larger breweries can only be a good thing for micro-breweries and real Ale.”
Thursday 6th January 2011
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Our first new brew of 2011 is out now! Brian Leach and his friend Neil (both members of East Lancs CAMRA) came along just before new year to brew a special bitter based on the Magee, Marshall Best Bitter. It has already been tried and tested in the local pub, it's going down well!!
The beer is called Sugar Devil. ABV 4%. Pump clip below.
Tuesday 23rd November 2010
Apologies for the delay but we have finally got round to putting up some info on our first Brewery Trip in the new unit. Everyone seemed to have a great night and below is a report from the organiser of the trip Julian Holt.
Hopping Mad...
we visit the Lancashire micro where Humulus lupulus is king
Hopstar Brewery is an immensely cheering place to visit for those who revere the art, craft and fine tradition of real, no-nonsense ale. In this brewhouse you'll find no gimmicks and no compromises with passing fads. And definitely no dumbing down when it comes to taste. What you get instead is a brewer totally dedicated to the task of producing great traditional beers bursting with individual flavours.
Twenty-nine Lunesdale CAMRA people and supporters – including ten members of Lancaster University's Real Ale & Cider Society – paid a recent visit to the Darwen-based brewery. They received a warm welcome from head brewer Barry, manager Natalie and the team and were able to enjoy some marvellous Hopstar beers while Barry talked with quiet passion about what drives him.
“If you're brewing, it's got to come from the heart, you've got to be committed. I brew because I love it and want to create distinctive, characterful beers for drinkers who appreciate quality ingredients and a full flavour.”
Barry and Hopstar haven't gone down the trendy path of trying to win over lager drinkers by producing pallid, sweetish, inoffensive ales. The “hop” in Hopstar gives a clue to the forceful character of these beers. Here Humulus lupulus – the brewers' hop – rules, and is well to the fore across the portfolio. At the brewery we tried the gloriously more-ish, aromatic bitter Lancashire Gold (4.0%) and the subtle and refreshing Hop Nouveau (3.7) brewed (as you'd expect) with new season hops.
Later, in the friendly Office pub we were able to enjoy the firm's best seller, the smooth and very tasty Dizzy Danny (3.8), the epitome of session ales, and the darkly succulent Smokey Joe's (4.0), a multi-award winning porter.
Hopstar's success reflects what's happened to real ale in recent years. Starting in 2004 in a garage (“We had to take the car out and clear away the junk”) brewing with a 2.5 barrel kit, the modern plant is now conveniently housed in an industrial unit from which up to 50 outlets are supplied in Greater Manchester and Lancashire. The brewery is also available to festival organisers to brew ales for their beer fests.
Long may Hopstar prosper. The philosophy behind it blends the passion and joyous enthusiasm of the dedicated amateur with the commitment to quality and high standards of the true professional. It's a heady brew.
Our thanks to Barry and Natalie for an evening to savour.
And you are very welcome. We enjoyed having you!!
 
 
 
More Photos are available on our Facebook page. Just search for Hopstar.
Wednesday 6th October 2010
Christmas Gift Boxes
COMING SOON!
Tuesday 14th September 2010
MEET THE BREWER NIGHT HAS CHANGED DATE! SORRY!
On Tuesday the 21ST September the Postal Order Blackburn will be holding a 'Meet The Brewer Night'.
There will be a range of Hopstar beers available on the night and you can catch up and ask the Brewer (Barry) any questions from 7.30pm.
One for the diary!
Tuesday 9th August 2010
The Prince of Wales in Darwen is officially UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT!
Get yourself down there soon for a pint of Hopstar Ales!!
Thursday 20th May 2010
We are getting plenty of bottles ready for Father's Day. We are selling a presentation box of 3 of our cask ales, bottle conditioned and ready to drink.
For pubs and shops we will be selling them on a sale or return basis so if you don't sell them all we will take them back!
If you just want to buy them for your family don't hesitate to contact us and buy them in time for Father's day (Sunday 20th June).
For tasting notes on these 3 beers please see the Bottled Beerpage.
Wednesday 12th May 2010
We are getting ready for our new World Cup Beer for 2010. Available from 7th June.
GAME ON 4%
A world cup winning beer.
Light in colour but not in character, nice malt base giving way to the famous Green Bullet hop in the after taste. A great session beer.
Tuesday 11th May
New beers for Summer 2010!
GREEN BULLET 3.8%
(Available through May)
A light refreshing beer built on a subtle Malt base.
Tuesday 6th April 2010
Some of our outlets have requested a new beer for St. George’s Day. So we are doing a couple of brews of George’s Courage at 3.8%
There will be a limited supply on a first come first served basis. So please order early or ring us to reserve a cask.
Thursday 28th January 2010
New Beers for Sping 2010
Available to order from February . . .
 
Monday 11th January 2010
Delivery By (Makeshift) Sledge!
The Christmas deliveries seemed like they would never get into the pubs but Hopstar got their priorities right and made all of the deliveries over the festive period!
The pictures show Barry pulling a cask of Lancashire Gold down a rather long road to one of the local pubs we supply to.
No one went without beer in the bad snow.
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