Searching for unique beers around the UK is one of our many tasks here at The Cask Connoisseur. It’s not just about the beer though! The breweries also play a vital role and especially when we come across one which thrives in its own glorious charm. That’s when we delved into the details of London based Toast Brewing. This distinctive brewery celebrates pride and joy by brewing beer with surplus bread. Who would have thought you could brew a range of beers with bread? This solo performance is a beneficial factor by achieving an environmentally friendly status.
About Toast Brewing, the brewery that brews beer with bread
Toast Brewing located in Greater London was launched in 2015 by two founders Rob Wilson and Louisa Ziane. Their mission was simple, to brew great beer with surplus bread and their mission to our eyes has been achieved. The amazing feature that strikes me and Chris about this brewery is how eco-friendly the brewery is. Furthermore, beer can be brewed with not the usual suspects ingredients like fruit, chocolate, but marvellously bread!
This charming brewery has expanded greatly over the years. Recently they’ve collaborated with Staffordshire’s Freedom Brewery to help with brewing and distribution. There are also developments for a microbrewery to be established in Milton Keynes.
Our First Impressions on the Selection of Toast Brewing beers that are brewed with bread
Changing Tides 0.5% Lager
The first beer that we sampled as part of the Toast Brewing beer tasting was Changing Tides (0.5% ABV Lager). Instantly, you can tell how light this low ABV beer is, the colour reminded us both of homemade lemonade. To find out more on what me and Chris thought of Changing Tides 0.5% ABV Lager in our Youtube review here.
Rise Up Lager 4.6% ABV
Secondly we both sampled was Rise Up Lager 4.6% ABV the alcohol version of Changing Tides (0.5% ABV Lager). On the pour, you can easily tell that the darkness of the beer reminds you of that traditional lager colour. There were small amounts of carbonate that fly to the top of the grass.
Grass Roots Pale Ale 4.1% ABV
An extremely lively pale ale that has a slight haze which doesn’t make this beer unappealing towards the eye. Interestingly, the can design just like the first two beers we both sampled has a very arty feel which is hugely eye catching. Furthermore, the can colour makes you think of grass, that could make your palette think you’re drinking beer with a taste of grass. Does sound appetising!
New Dawn Session IPA 4.3% ABV
This is the second time both me and Chris have sampled this beer. Previously we didn’t enjoy this beer and that was purely down to the order on the day of the beers we were reviewing. You learn from those mistakes! Anyway, sampling New Dawn Session IPA the second time round certainly gave the indication of being one of the darkest beers out of all of toast beers. However, what did seem more amusing was that being a traditional IPA it covered less CO2 out of all of them, sometimes they do say less CO2 in a beer means the less gassy it can make your body feel.
Tasting Notes on the Selection of Toast Brewing Beers that are brewed with bread
Changing Tides 0.5% ABV Lager
- Colour – A lightly coloured straw look-like lager
- Aroma – Reminds you the Mashing Process when brewing beer, exquisitely malty. Addictively fruity, raspberries and pineapple spring to mind.
- Taste – More malt. Best to be served chilled as it will bring out more flavours.
- Aftertaste – A slight hint of carbonate that isn’t too powerful. Chris, thinks that the finish reminds him of a sparkling sugar-reduced Elderflower Cordial. Funnily enough I went down the route of thinking the finish was a refreshing can of Apple Tango.
Rise Up Lager 4.6% ABV Lager
- Colour – Traditional dark amber lager colour e.g. Carling
- Aroma – Spring floats around the whole glass, May blossom, daffodils and that enchanting fresh cut lawn scent. Chris made a point that after so long the aroma changed into a Whisky scent. Generally, aromas can change once Oxygen is present inside the glass. This can take a few minutes for a new aroma to be triggered.
- Taste – A tropical and lemon flavoured beer which made this lager impeccably refreshing and clean.
- Aftertaste – The classical Starbursts sweets which bring incredible amounts of tang and juice. Plus, it’s hugely mouth watering which instantly makes you want to drink more, but be careful it’s not sessionable.
Grass Roots Pale Ale 4.1% ABV
- Colour – A hazy style pale ale that may put you off at first, but to make up for this you get an awesome aroma.
- Aroma – Earthy and herby with hints of fresh raspberries and blackberries. There are also small lingers of tropical fruit, but this isn’t too overwhelming.
- Taste – Firstly WOW, a sensational pale ale that delivers a grassy and earthy texture. The flavours rapidly evolve each time you take a sip making it such a remarkable pale ale.
- Aftertaste – Specks of black pepper which combines sensationally with the herby aroma, making this beer completely balanced. Although it’s quite flat on the body that doesn’t eliminate the fact how amazing this beer is.
New Dawn Session IPA 4.3% ABV
- Colour – Compared to the other beers that we’ve sampled, New Dawn Session IPA delivered a less carbonated feel inside the glass. It reminded us both of a Cask beer that’s been poured from the pumps.
- Aroma – Enormous amounts of peach, pineapple and Strawberries and Cream. Chris picked up textures of burnt (not cremated) toast and chocolate spread.
- Taste – Very bitter, this is where it went wrong for me and Chris last time, as the bitter kick is so over powering. Previously when we tried this beer it defeated all the other flavours, but this time we could understand the textures a lot more.
- Aftertaste – For an IPA it’s heavily bitter which may not appeal to many. You can easily have one or two cans, but the third may quash your taste buds together, this might be down to the American hops that have been used.
How to enjoy Toast Brewing Beers brewed with bread
Changing Tides 0.5% ABV
If you’re planning on having a family BBQ throughout the Summer and you are debating to seek for that healthier alternative to alcohol, then Changing Tides is certainly a big hit for this. Amazingly, it’s only 18 calories a can, so it can certainly be enjoyed without putting the pounds on.
However, like most low alcohol beers, it’s not sessionable just because the taste can get a bit boring after sipping a few cans.
Rise Up Lager 4.6% ABV
I had to mention when reviewing Rise Up Lager, that to enjoy this beer you could pair it with a fruity Eton Mess, or if you prefer less cream you could always opt for a refreshing fruit salad.
Grass Roots Pale Ale 4.1% ABV
This sessionable pale ale speaks for itself, and the only way you can enjoy this is to buy some for yourselves and see if you agree with what me and Chris have said.
New Dawn Session IPA 4.3% ABV
Just like a traditional Cask Beer but from a can, this bitter IPA would make a great combination to have with Fish & Chips or you could go more hearty and try it with a deep filled steak and ale pie. Being such a craft inspirational drink, this could also be paired with a Southern fried chicken burger. On the other hand, if you’re having a sweet tooth, then why not go for some Strawberries and Cream whilst watching some classic Wimbledon Tennis matches.
Our Connoisseur’s Conclusion On the Toast Brewing Tasting
This has been such an enjoyable tasting and still to this very moment it’s unbelievable to see that all four of these beers have been created with recycled bread.
But, there can only be one winner and even though each beer brought different flavours and textures and whilst judging can be difficult for me it was narrowed down to one can whilst Chris had a stumbling decision to make between two of the beers.
Grass roots pale ale gets the thumbs up from me, (Luke) the evolving aroma was so appealing and the grassy, herby texture just made this beer taste amazing.
Chris’s decision was between Rise Up Lager and Grass Roots Pale Ale and this is how honest we both are, Chris loved the Rise Up Lager and voted that as his favorite. Although Chris doesn’t drink lager as mentioned earlier he would happily enjoy a couple of pints of this in a local pub especially with those spring feel aromas.
What a way to end this enjoyable tasting!
Cheers.
