A NEW beer using a vintage hop variety synonymous with Farnham is being brewed exclusively for Waitrose by Hogs Back Brewery.

Farnham White is a golden, single-hop bottled beer made with Farnham White Bine, a traditional hop variety that made the Farnham area affluent in the 17th Century, and which has been rescued from near extinction by Hogs Back.

The hops used to brew the four per cent ABV Farnham White were grown in Hogs Back’s own hop garden and carefully harvested by the brewing team last September.

Hogs Back is the only brewer in the world using this hop variety, and the result is a single-hop beer with unique provenance, offering a fresh, golden colour with earthy, peppery notes and a lasting bitter finish. 

The Hogs Back Brewery hop garden is planted on three-and-a-half acres adjacent to the brewery in Tongham. The garden produced its first harvest in September 2015, representing a significant step forward in the brewery’s commitment to sourcing ingredients as locally as possible, and making Hogs Back the biggest hop producer of any UK brewer.

The hop garden initiative has already won prestigious awards, including the British Beer & Pub Association Grain-to-Glass Award 2015, recognising the brewer’s commitment to sustainability and engagement with the community.

In March, the Society of Independent Brewers gave Hogs Back its Business Innovation Award for 2016, in recognition of the investment in its hop garden.

Hogs Back Brewery managing director Rupert Thompson said: “The Farnham White Bine hop once made our small part of Surrey world renowned, and the whole community has welcomed its return. We’re pleased to be bringing it to beer lovers beyond our heartland.”

Waitrose has supermarkets in Farnham, Petersfield and Alton.