This weekend, churches and community groups around the county will be celebrating Harvest Festival. A perfect way to mark the time of year where the evening should be spent with the curtains closed, maybe a cheeky fire lit, and a bottle of your favourite Humber Doucy by the side of your armchair.
The Harvest Moon
The Harvest Moon is the full moon that falls closest to the Autumn equinox and is the traditional date for Harvest Festivals. The more extended period of bright moonlight given is said to help farmers harvest their crops at night, hence the name.
This year, that extra light will definitely not be needed as the heatwaves and droughts of the summer have resulted in the earliest start to Harvest for many years. Humber Doucy relies on local wheat and barley, and despite the early heat wave and concerns this year, it looks like the Harvest has been better than expected 🤞🏻
Autumn
When does Autumn start? If you look towards retailers for the answer, they would tell us it was Christmas in the middle of August, so that makes Autumn around Easter time 🤣 After a cracking late August bank holiday this year, it seemed wrong to start talking about Autumn just a week later, but meteorological Autumn does begin on 1 September. Astronomical Autumn typically occurs around the 22nd or 23rd of September, varying from year to year depending on the moon’s position.
For us, Autumn starts when you have the curtains closed by 630pm, quality TV starts, and you need little excuse to snuggle down in an armchair for the evening, after a warming meal. Or when you visit your local, and the fire has been lit to ward off the damp after a day of moody skies and rain.
Living in the heart of Suffolk, it is hard not to love every season in our wonderful county.
We recommend three of our brews for sipping while embracing the chill and crispness of Autumn.
Porter – rich, dark and smooth
A smooth American-style robust porter, with a rich mixture of coffee and chocolate flavours. Our Porter was the Bronze winner in the 2022 SIBA Regional Bottle & Can Awards for Stouts and Porters, which we are very proud of. It is hard to beat on a cold, dark evening.
King Slayer- the best Suffolk bitter available (in our opinion 😉)
Our bitter is malty, fruity and piney. Perfect for an Autumnal evening. Bitter is considered the national drink of England and has been around since the 1600s.
A traditional bitter brewed in Suffolk and made using Target and Jester hops. This beer has a piney flavour with hints of blackcurrant. Like our other beers, King Slayer is unrefined and unfiltered to retain the flavour and make it vegan-friendly.
As to the name? Reflective of our humorous outlook on life, and our desire to produce a fine ale, we will leave that to your interpretation 😉
Beacon Ale – lighting the way in Suffolk
The Mendlesham Mast has been an iconic feature of Suffolk for over 60 years. We hope that its namesake Ale will be as famous and still be around in 60 years, for you to enjoy.
Beacon’s fruity and malty taste is complex. Created using a blend of crystal and rye malts, paired with a specially chosen citrussy hop mix, this beer provides warmth and comfort.
Our Beacon Ale gives the same comfort as seeing the red lights of the mast glowing in the distance. Reddish in colour, it’s a homecoming beer.
At 4.3%, this bottled vegan-friendly Red Ale is an authentic taste of Suffolk.
Forget the salad – time for some lovely root veg and locally reared roasts.
Our King Slayer, Beacon Ale and Porter are perfect for an Autumn supper. What could be better than a pub plate of warming food whilst enjoying your favourite Humber Doucy brew? If your favourite local eateries are not yet stocking Humber Doucy, drop us a line and we will work our magic. And there is never an excuse for your cupboards at home to be bare of Humber Doucy.
Need to stock up at home?
Make sure you always have your favourite Autumnal Brew waiting at home for you:
🍂 Online – pop onto our online shop, Humber Doucy Brewery Online Shop
🍂 In-person – Visit Finbows Tap (IP14 4N), open Wednesday to Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm. Not only can you stock your fridge with Humber Doucy, but you can also enjoy a top-class coffee and cake at the same time.
Autumn Limited Editions Coming Soon
Autumn is perfect for a Porter. Especially one that has a certain je ne sais quoi added by the history of the oak barrel.
This year, we have three special Porters to delight your taste buds, crafted using barrels from Irish whiskey, rum, and Kentucky bourbon. To say we are excited would be an understatement. Using oak barrels to age Porter results in a unique flavour that can never be recreated due to the influence of the barrel. We can not wait to bottle – and drink – these.
We are also proud to be launching our Honey Brown Ale, made with honey from our very own bees, based in Bacton. Beedicca’s Brew will be buzzing its way to you soon.
All four will be available in bottles exclusively from Finbows Tap.
#IFoundHumberDoucy
Wherever you choose to enjoy your Humber Doucy, pop a photo on socials with the tag #IFoundHumberDoucy.