Much Kneaded, Toast Ale

Brewery: Toast Ale

Brew: Much Kneaded

Type: Craft Lager

ABV: 5%

On a bit of a lager fix at the moment, this week is a Pilsner style, Craft Lager with a twist. It’s made using bread.

Yes, that’s right, actual bread. And it’s more than just a gimmick used to sell beer. There is a huge ethical element to the actions of the team at Toast Ale. After doing some research they found that a very very very…very large amount of perfectly good bread is wasted everyday in supermarkets, factories and the home (24 million slices a day in fact!).

Rather than waste these tonnes bread, the clever buggers use it in their brewing process. The perfectly good, otherwise waste bread, is baked for 1 hour before been crumbled up, and used to replace some of the barley in the mash.

In fact, here’s exactly how this beer is made!: http://www.toastale.com/toast-ale-recipe/

It’s a fairly clear, light golden colour when poured, almost looks a little weak, but the smell is firmly of wheat, which I guess you’d expect, with it being made of bread and all. In the glass this Toast looks more golden, lightly toasted, you might say.

There’s a malty base to Much Kneaded, with a little bit of hop, not a massive amount, just a slight undertone. There’s a sweetness to this brew. This becomes especially clear when, as usually happens, it covers my moustache and the taste kind hangs around a bit.

Overall it does actually taste a little bit like toast. Pleasing really, I think it would have been a bit disappointing if there hadn’t been at least a hint.

Its a great lager with a real character of it’s own. Easy to drink with a great refreshing factor. You really could eat…sorry…drink this for breakfast, or lunch…maybe much would be safer. What comes with the character, is the real feeling that there is bread in this room as I drink. But there isn’t, no bread at all.

It’s a fell good brew. Add in the fact that the brewers are charitable, environmentally friendly and care about food waste, you can be a smug bastard as you enjoy. I’m developing a taste for lagers, and for toast, I need more Toast in my life, both the bread variety, and the liquid.

4.25 / 5