Dancing Duck Brewery

Hello everyone, it’s been a while since my last post, I am trying to provide content for you all as best as possible, it has been difficult at times, but I am here today with a fresh and brand new post.

Before we start though, I want to question to you all, on how well you’ve all been keeping, there are still challenges going on, and we all have to admit its been a difficult year, but we all have to keep going and remain positive.

I have found though some slightly different techniques to deliver some of my beer posts, originally, I would sample beers at a variety of different pubs and provide content on each.

However, since COVID-19, I have decided to purchase mixed-bottle cases and indulge into some beautiful beers whilst sitting in the comfort of my own house.

Today’s blog though is a Brewery Post on a tremendous Derbyshire Brewery called The Dancing Duck Brewery!

You may well remember from earlier on in the year, I did a Cask Ale Review Post on Ay Up from this tremendous brewery, you can check out this amazing post here and take a sip for yourself.

History

The Dancing Duck Brewery was founded by Rachel Matthews who formally was from Wolverhampton, along with her partner Ian, who is from Derbyshire, they both developed and created The Dancing Duck Brewery.

The business officially opened up in 2010, however it wasn’t all plain sailing!

Rachel convinced Ian, that she wanted to start her own microbrewery, Ian throughout his life had worked as a brewery designer engineer for 20 years, so his experience really helped out.

It did take quite a long time to persuade Ian that starting up a business was a fantastic idea, during the time whilst Ian was so indecisive, Rachel learnt at much as possible about Real Ale on both practical and theoretical bases.

Rachel, was also fortunate to get a job at The Blue Monkey Brewery, the owner John Hickling provided as much experience to Rachel as possible, just so that she could understand the industry more.

The first 3 beers that were launched were Ay Up, 22 and Gold.

There is an interesting story on Ay Up, just please be sure to check out my post on it at the top of this post!

Since the brewery has grown over the years, there are more tremendous beers available, as well as a brewery team of 9 employees.

Furthermore, Rachel and Ian are still at the helm of the business.

To complete the history section, it may have crossed your mind on why this brewery is called The Dancing Duck Brewery!

Basically, when Rachel moved to Derby, she ended popping out one day and ended getting repeatedly called ‘Duck’ 7 times in one shop!

Ian, explained that the term Duck is nothing to worry about and that in fact its a term of endearment within the East Midlands.

As the phrase grew on Rachel, she was trying to think of a name to come up for the brewery, after so much thought, The Dancing Duck was the perfect selection.

Hey why not The Dancing Duck?

This is where all the magic happens, if only I could owe my own microbrewery!

Well you never know what could happen in the future, haha!

Dancing Duck Beers

AY UP – 3.9% ABV – An eminently drinkable pale session ale! Subtle malt and floral notes are matched splendidly with citrus hop, rounded off with a slightly dry finish. CAMRA Champion Beer Of Britain Gold 2019.

Nice Weather 4 Ducks – 4.1% ABV – Copper coloured fruity session ale which is packed full of flavour. Strawberry, blackberry and floral rose. A refreshing summer thirst quencher.

22 – 4.3% ABV – A wonderfully balanced Best Bitter with good malty flavour and dark fruit notes, these are offset with a strong hop with a very clean finish.

DCUK – 4.3% ABV – A beautiful aroma and powerful upfront hoppy bitterness give way to an explosion of citrus and pine flavours

Dark Drake – 4.5% ABV – Delicious malty, caramel and liquorice flavours combine wonderfully in a smooth drinking and velvety Oatmeal Stout with a freshly roasted coffee and toffee finish. CAMRA Champion Beer Of Britain Bronze 2015!

Abduction – 5.5% ABV – A myriad of tropical fruit flavours in harmonious balance with an enjoyable level of hoppy bitterness, a good malt character and a very clean finish.

Quack Addict – 3.8% ABV – A deep chestnut beer with a great malty character, spicy molasses and blackcurrent notes.

Waitangi – 4.0% ABV – An easy drinking and crisp Pale Ale.

Brown Clough – 4.0% ABV – An easy drinking New Zealand Pale Ale, very moreish!

Duck Berry – 4.1% ABV – A citrusy, grapefruit, crispy and hoppy pale ale.

#Wet February – 4.2% ABV – An easy drinking pale ale with citrus flavours and a hint of spice.

Sapphire – 4.2% ABV – A crisp and easy drinking pale ale with citrus and orange.

Donald #uck – 4.2% ABV – A pale ale that has a complex flavour of gooseberry, tangerine, lime and vanilla.

Hoppy Christmas – 4.2% ABV – A sparkling hoppy session pale ale. Perfect to quaff in the festive season.

Back, Sack and Quack – 4.2% ABV – A traditional mild recipe but full bodied with bags of malty flavour. Black cherry, cola and toffee with a caramel finish and a berry aroma.

Release The Quacken – 4.4% ABV – A heavily hopped West Coast Pale Ale, which is full of tropical fruits and citrus.

Waddle It Be – 4.5% ABV – This pale ale is packed full of five different New World hops giving a complex mouth-feel and intense fruity flavours of oranges, peaches and blackcurrants with a spicy black pepper kick.

Beaky Blinders – 4.5% ABV – Beaky blinder is a 4.5% unfined golden ale, a blend of hops from the USA and the UK give it a complex character, it’s a bold, bad ass beer that will leave you desperate for the next one.

Gold – 4.7% ABV – A modern IPA with a good hoppy bitterness and aroma, balanced with strong malt finishes.

Amberillo – 4.8% ABV – An easy drinking amber ale, with a spicy and peppery finish.

Quack Me Amadaus – 5.0% ABV – A Vienna style cask lager, amber in colour with a good body and hints of orange on the palate and nose.

Indian Porter – 5.0% ABV – A modern twist on a classic style of beer. Smoky bonfire flavours with a spicy hop and pleasant warming afterglow. Very moorish. CAMRA National Bronze medal winner Porters catagory 2018.

Seduction – 5.2% ABV – A malt led beer, dark fruit flavours are followed by a lingering powerful American hop. A tantalisingly tasty ruby ale.

Imperial Dark Drake – 6.5% ABV – The big bold brother of our multi award winning stout. With all the same delicious malty, caramel and liquorice flavours, still combining wonderfully in a smooth drinking velvety, oatmeal stout with a freshly roasted coffee and toffee finish just at 6.5%!

Ending 

That I must say is a fantastic range of Cask Ales that are on offer from this brewery, and I must admit they will be new beers being produced as the years go on.

The brewery is going from strength to strength and will continue to do so!

I am hopeful one day in the future, when its safe that I can travel to this brewery and take myself on a tour of The Dancing Duck Brewery.

This now concludes my post on this amazing brewery, if you do have any questions, then please do leave me a comment and I’ll answer it as best as I can.

For now though, Stay Safe and Take Care!

Cheers…

The Cask Connoisseur