Fancy a brew? The Queens Arms launches home brewing course with Gyle 59

Balancing malt with hops, understanding the finer points of fermentation and distinguishing pale ale from IPA are just some of the skills that brewing beginners and aficionados will learn during Somerset-based The Queens Arms’ new craft beer course, in association with award-winning Dorset brewery, Gyle 59. This hands on masterclass in mash, method and matching, will take place from Friday 15 – Sunday 17 April 2016.

Budding brewers will begin by familiarising themselves with Gyle 59’s own distinctive range of beers, which will be carefully matched with a three course dinner cooked by The Queens Arms’ head chef, Ben Abercrombie. After a restful night in one of The Queens Arms’ elegant AA 5-star rooms, the work will begin, covering everything from the basics of brewing right through to bottling up the first batch. Gyle 59 founder, Jon Hoskins, and co-owner, Amanda Edwards, will share their extensive knowledge of beer styles, technical theory and recipe creation, before the time comes to get hands on with the hops.

Learning about different malts, yeasts, hops and water will prepare students to create their own collaborative recipe on day one, before spending much of day two brewing and bottling an unfined batch under supervision from John and Amanda, using Gyle 59’s unique supply of spring water. After fermentation and conditioning, everyone on the course will be sent six bottles of their own brew, which will also be on tap at The Queens Arms a few weeks later.

The two-day home brew course, including two nights’ accommodation at The Queens Arms in Corton Denham, Somerset, dinner on Friday and Saturday night, breakfast, a light lunch each day and transfers to the Gyle 59 brewery in Thorncombe, Dorset, costs £800 for two people in a classic room or £830 for two people in an executive room.

For more information about The Queens Arms visit www.thequeensarms.com.

To find out more about Gyle 59 visit www.gyle59.co.uk.