FROM Glasgow to West Africa via Brooklyn – the latest release from ethical brewer Brewgooder puts one of the African continent’s oldest cereals, fonio, front and centre.
Despite not being well known in the UK, fonio is a common crop in West African countries. It is drought-resistant and is able to be cultivated in nutrient-poor soil without the use of fertilizers or pesticides.
Brewgooder collaborated with Brooklyn Brewery in the US to create Fonio Session IPA, a 4.3% ABV IPA produced using fonio sourced from specialist African food business Yolélé.
“I love the impactful work that Brewgooder are doing, and first approached them several years ago about working with fonio,” said Brooklyn brewmaster, Garret Oliver.
“The pandemic slowed us all down, but I’m thrilled to see this project finally out in the world.
“The goal was to brew an accessible IPA that demonstrated the unique fruity flavours that fonio can bring to beer. I think the entire brewing community ought to be excited about this super-grain that few of us have even heard about. I’m personally excited to be drinking our delicious beer while supporting African small-hold farmers and the land that sustains them.”
The beer is described as having notes of bitter orange, jasmine, lychee fruit, gooseberry and mango.
It is available in 330ml cans and is currently exclusively on draught in Castle Pubs across the UK.
Sales of Fonio IPA will help to fund clean water projects in Mali, where fonio farming is prevalent.
Brewgooder co-founder Alan Mahon said: “When we first started brewing, I’m not sure I would have believed it if someone said we would one day collaborate with Brooklyn Brewery.
“To work with them on a collaboration that is not only the UK’s first ever ‘at scale’ fonio grain beer but also empowering communities, while gathering learnings for more sustainable brewing, is something very special to the entire Brewgooder team.”
