The Driftwood Spars Brewery and brewpub in St Agnes will host a virtual beer festival on Saturday 13th March, as their annual spring event – The Dark, The Light & The Saison – goes online for the first time in its 12-year history.
The interactive event will bring together brewers and beer lovers from across the UK and beyond in a celebration of small, independent breweries and the diversity of styles they make across those three distinct categories.
It will be dedicated to the memory of Pete Martin, Founding Brewer at The Driftwood Spars, who passed away suddenly in 2020; the event has been timed to coincide with what would have been his 58th birthday.
Louise Treseder, landlady of The Driftwood Spars, who started working alongside Pete in 2007, said: “We’re really looking forward to bringing people together – albeit virtually – after 12 extraordinarily tough months for our industry. We want to contribute to Pete’s legacy and look to the future of his beloved brewery here in Trevaunance Cove.”
A brand new beer will be launched during the virtual beer festival; Pete’s Mild (or ‘Pete Smiled’ as it will doubtless be known by those who knew him) has been designed in collaboration with his friends and colleagues, who took part in an online tasting to come up with the flavour profile of the beer.
Pete’s Mild has been brewed by Head Brewer Mike Mason who, just like his predecessor, has an eclectic taste in beer and loves to experiment, but also holds the traditional, hand-crafted practices of brewing in high regard.
Mike said: “I know so many of our regular customers are missing their visits to Trevaunance Cove, to buy beer at our coastal brewery and sample a pint or two in the pub. It’s a real enclave of appreciation for genuine, small-batch beer. This online event will replicate that as much as possible, transporting participants here while they can’t visit in person.”
Participants are invited to pre-order a tasting case of beers ahead of the event which includes Pete’s Mild and beers from other breweries with close ties, including Harbour Brewing, Atlantic Brewery and Wild Beer in Somerset; beers from as far afield as The Midlands and Belgium will also feature.
A special small-batch release from St Austell Brewery will be one highlight; Cardinal Syn was originally made by Roger Ryman, Brewing Director of St Austell Brewery, who also sadly passed away in 2020.
The cases will come with a schedule of interactive tastings led by Mike and Louise and various guests, as they explore the full gamut of the dark, light and saison styles.
For updates on the virtual beer festival, follow The Driftwood Spars Brewery on Twitter at @DriftyBrewery or on Facebook at @driftwoodsparsbrewery.
