THEY may be only in their first year but when it comes to making beer, these guys are not monkeying around.

That’s Jack Snell and Aidan Kerins, who together run Colchester’s newest brewery, Other Monkey Brewery, based in the basement of the Three Wise Monkeys bar in Colchester.

Over the last few weeks they’ve been busier than ever not only providing some kegs to the Colchester Winter Beer Festival but also coming up with two new ales for the Pex Appeal food takeover they have in the bar at the moment.

As I arrive, they’re just finishing off a mango and pineapple beer, which is possibly the best beer I’ve ever tasted.

Jack says: “The guys from Pex Appeal came to us to see if we could brew them some special beers for the month, while they’re here in the kitchen, and this mango one is one of them.

“That’s for the fried chicken, because it will cut through the fattiness of the chicken, while for the Mexican food we’ve come up with a lime and coriander beer, which is great with spicy food.”

Halstead Gazette: Jack Snell and Aidan Kerins in Other Monkey Brewery

And it’s this kind of experimental approach to their beers that has gained them plenty of new fans from all over the country.

“Locally we’ve been supplying to the bar, obviously,” Jack continues, “as well as Twisters but more recently we’ve had a bit of success with the festivals. Our first was one in Ealing, north London, and we were delighted to have some of our beer at the town’s Winter Festival.

“It’s been a passion of mine for a while and to now look after a brewery is a bit of a dream really.”

For Aidan working in a brewery is also dream come true.

He says: “I’d already done a bit of home brewing and I had every intention to going to university to take a course in it but I thought it would be a better idea to go straight into the industry.

“I had been working on the bar, and Jack and I still do, one day a week, when I heard they were going to be brewing their own beer, so I asked to help out.”

Jack says: “At the moment two is enough for the workload we have but at some stage we’d like to expand. As we’re starting to grow more space would be a real benefit to us. It’s funny to think that it was only last year that we started off with our first IPA and now we’re making beers like mango and pineapple and our vanilla latte stout.”

Later this month, the brewers will be putting their beers up against some of the best ales in the country when Three Wise Monkeys runs its own beer festival.

With 24 cask ales from more than 20 different breweries, including Magic Rock’s Triple Coffee Porter made with their local coffee roaster Dark Woods in Huddersfield, and Gypsy Hill’s Beatnik light pale ale from south London, it runs from February 22 to 25.

For more information go to www.threewisemonkeyscolchester.co.uk

Halstead Gazette: James Kildea, Jack Snell and Zach Maynard getting ready for TWM's first ever beer festiva

It’s full steam ahead for other beer fests too

AS well as the Three Wise Monkeys beer festival there are plenty of other winter beer fests set for Essex coming up.

Running from now until Saturday (Feb 17, the Chelmsford Winter Beer & Cider Festival takes place at King Edward VI Grammar School in Broomfield Road. Over 170 Real Ales, over 50 Real Ciders, Perries, & Pyders. LocAle bar, and local wines from Felsted Vineyard. Hot & cold food, and soft drinks available at all times. Central location only 5 minutes walk from Bus and Railway Stations.

On Tuesday (February 20) Chelmsford City Racecourse is hosting an evening beer festival with live music. A selection of more than 60 different beers and ciders from around the world will be on offer to whet your appetite. Tickets £5 per person.
www.chelmsfordcityracecourse.com/

Then in early March the Chappel Winter Beer Festival returns to Colchester. The event, at Chappel Station, will take place over the weekend of March 2 and 3 and is jointly organised by the East Anglian Railway Museum and our friends from the Campaign for Real Ale. A variety of beers from small local breweries including some rarities not normally available in Essex. Soft drinks are also available as well as hot and cold food and great live music on both evenings.
www.earm.co.uk/chappel-winter-beer-festival/Spring Beer Festival
Billericay Brewing Company, Chapel Street, Billericay
Thursday 22nd March 2018 to Sunday 25th March 2018
20+ beers and more.

Meanwhile world famous Oktoberfest returns to Essex after an amazing first year once again for a huge weekend of traditional Bavarian entertainment, food and drink. 
Central Park, Friday 5th and Saturday the 6th of October 2018. 
Central Park, Parkway Entrance, Chelmsford, CM1 1WZ Tickets will be available soon via various ticket partners; Eventbrite and via OktoberfestEssex.co.uk. Sign up at OktoberfestEssex.co.uk to be the first available to purchase tickets 

If you would like more information about Oktoberfest Bath, please contact Info@ OktoberfestEssex.co.uk or visit our website www. OktoberfestEssex.co.uk