Brewers launch first beer for visually impaired

Blind tasting for Braille Ale.

Brewers in the Lake District have concocted Europe’s first-ever beer for blind people.

Orange peel from Venezuela and ginger and hops from Germany are just three of the ingredients in a special version of the tipple.

Called Braille Ale, it is hoped the pioneering drink will revolutionise the way blind people enjoy a pint.

The Bowness Bay Brewing Company beer, which has braille on the bottle, was brewed two weeks ago. Now, after most of the first batch of 135 gallons have been knocked back, brewers Ronnie Mullin, 60, and Richard Husbands, 42, are to cook up even more.

“We were just going to make it a one-off,” said Ronnie, who also works as a graphic designer. “We thought it would be a good idea because visually impaired people can’t see what they are drinking and with beer you taste with your eyes first.

“We’ve not heard of anything like it being made before.”

Richard and Ronnie set up their micro brewery 18 months ago.

“We both enjoy real ale so thought we’d give brewing a try,” explained Ronnie, from Windermere. “Richard had made some half decent beers, but neither of us knew much about brewing on this scale.

“It gives us great satisfaction going into a pub now and seeing people drinking our beers.”

The pair’s first brew called Swan Blonde went on sale two months after they opened and is sold in pubs as far south as Suffolk. But the two-week brewing process of Braille Ale was the most exciting of their six ales yet.

“The more we tested it through the fermenting stage, the more we knew we had cracked it,” admitted Ronnie. “When it was finished, it was a ‘wow’.”

Thirty-six gallons have been stashed away for CAMRA’s 20th festival in Cumbria.

Added Ronnie: “CAMRA asked us to create a beer for the festival. We had always wanted to do a wheat brew and so this seemed like the perfect time to do one.

“We started it in plenty of time in case it didn’t taste good. But we can’t believe how well it has worked out. A couple of pints of it are really nice,” he added.

The Braille Ale has racked up rave reviews from the country’s top beer connoisseurs. It has also gone down a storm with customers.

Derek Kingwell, 55, who is blind in one eye and only has 13% sight in the other, hailed it a “brilliant concept”.

He said: “It’s unlike any other wheat beer I’ve ever tasted.

“Gently spiced, hoppy wheat aromas lead to hints of coriander, refreshing ginger spice flavours and a smoky, wheaty finish it’s perfect!”

Derek joked that his guidedog, Uska, also likes sipping it. He added: “This is going to be a big hit with connoisseurs.”

Braille Ale will be officially launched at Westmorland CAMRA festival in Kendal on October 9.