Small Gods / Blanchefleur - 3.1% 440ml

The seventh in Small Gods’ series of Table Beers honouring characters from Arthurian legend is also our first ever fresh hop beer! As always with this series, it’s gloriously drinkable while still being full-flavoured. This time it’s an amber beer with plenty of specialty malts to keep things interesting and provide a delightful body — Pilsner, Vienna, Munich I & II, Dark Wheat, and Carafa. Green Bullet is a magnificent, oft-overlooked New Zealand hop variety, known for its spicy dried fruit character with hints of pine, molasses, and black pepper. The last variety to be harvested each season, Freestyle Hops raised a small but exceptional crop this year. The fresh cones were flown up from Nelson and added to the brew within hours of being picked. Expect a balanced and sessionable beer with notes of caramel biscuit, grapefruit marmalade, and jammy berries.

Blanchefleur was a noble lady of great renown, ruling over the besieged castle of Beaurepaire with courage and unyielding grace. Though cut off from allies and vastly outnumbered, she refused to surrender, holding fast behind her walls with a dwindling company of loyal defenders. Her resolve did not go unnoticed. When the young knight Percival arrived at her gates, he found not a damsel in despair but a sovereign in command. He lifted the siege through force of arms. In the days that followed, the two grew close, bound by mutual respect and quiet affection. When Percival departed to seek the Grail, Blanchefleur returned to her people, ever the steadfast guardian of her realm. Some say they wed in time, others that she waited always, holding the light for his return.