Dark Star news

[PaulOfHorsham]

I know that this item from the Dark Star Blog will be of interest to some: Time for change… The post begins "Well, it’s been one hell of a ride but I’ve decided it’s time to move on from Dark Star." And, yes, these are Mark's words.

I just hope that recent recruits to the brewing team will be as sensibly creative. Which is to say that, to me, just about everything that comes out of the brewery is good quality, interesting, in some cases educational, but never too off the all to have me thinking 'what the hell are you thinking of with this one?' Be interesting to see how things develop in the coming months and years.

[Mobyduck]

I know that this item from the Dark Star Blog will be of interest to some: Time for change… The post begins "Well, it’s been one hell of a ride but I’ve decided it’s time to move on from Dark Star." And, yes, these are Mark's words.

I just hope that recent recruits to the brewing team will be as sensibly creative. Which is to say that, to me, just about everything that comes out of the brewery is good quality, interesting, in some cases educational, but never too off the all to have me thinking 'what the hell are you thinking of with this one?' Be interesting to see how things develop in the coming months and years.

Not good news to hear , but life goes on, hopefully the quality an innovation can be maintained.

[Bucking Fastard]

Thanks for posting that Paul,it does sound like potentially bad news.I suppose a lot depends on the skill of the brewing team left behind,but Dark Star has been so innovative up to this point ;it must be a tough act to follow.Dark Star have also consistently produced top quality ale ,lets hope that standards dont slip either.IMHO they are currently right at the top of the brewers "Premiership",so maybe to get out at the top is understandable .

[Brewguru]

Its been interesting to note comment on Thornbridge from some of us recently saying its not been as good as usual - stems from Kelly Ryan (mentioned in the blog article) going back to New Zealand maybe?

[london calling]

Rob Jones the owner of Darkstar is also leaving to set up a micro brewery at the Duke of Wellington Shoreham.

[Aqualung]

Rob Jones the owner of Darkstar is also leaving to set up a micro brewery at the Duke of Wellington Shoreham.

I was going to post the question "what happened to the bloke from Pitfield?".

I worry that great micro brewers seem to go downhill when they become effectively major regional brewers and the founding brewer takes a back seat. In my experience Hopback beers are not as good as they were when John Gilbert started up in the mid 80s.

I only have two recent experiences of Dark Star beers, the Winter Meltdown which didn't bowl me over and the Brodie's collaboration which I enjoyed.

The one Dark Star brew that really did make an impact on me some years ago was the Expresso Stout which I thought was incredible and unlike anything I had tried before.

[london calling]

I know that this item from the Dark Star Blog will be of interest to some: Time for change… The post begins "Well, it’s been one hell of a ride but I’ve decided it’s time to move on from Dark Star." And, yes, these are Mark's words.

I just hope that recent recruits to the brewing team will be as sensibly creative. Which is to say that, to me, just about everything that comes out of the brewery is good quality, interesting, in some cases educational, but never too off the all to have me thinking 'what the hell are you thinking of with this one?' Be interesting to see how things develop in the coming months and years.

I actually think they have become better.Had lots of very good new beers from them since he left and the quality of their regular beers has been amazing.

[Bucking Fastard]

I actually think they have become better.Had lots of very good new beers from them since he left and the quality of their regular beers has been amazing.

I second that emotion

[Mobyduck]

I actually think they have become better.Had lots of very good new beers from them since he left and the quality of their regular beers has been amazing.

Personally I think Hophead is a shadow of its former self, they claim not to have changed the recipe but my theory is they may be using british grown hops instead of the original American ones, whatever they are doing it tastes totally different than it did a couple of years ago.

[Wittenden]

Personally I think Hophead is a shadow of its former self, they claim not to have changed the recipe but my theory is they may be using british grown hops instead of the original American ones, whatever they are doing it tastes totally different than it did a couple of years ago.

Not sure about that, but it is up against stiff competition in the sub 4% abv pale ale sector from the likes of Burning Sky Plateau, Bedlam Phoenix and Kent Session PA .Thinking about it, many of the personnel of these breweries are alumni of DS.