Posts tagged Chris Bowen
Bethlehem Brewer Chris Bowen Travels to Britian as Guest Speaker for CAMRA
Guest Post by LauraLynne Burtner
Bethlehem beer historian, award-winning home brewer, and extreme brewing enthusiast Christopher Bowen traveled to Burton-on-Trent, England, at the invitation of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) to be their guest speaker at an event taking place today, October 1, 2010. Bowen’s address to CAMRA recounts his travel experience and the inspiration behind his mission “Arctic Alchemy: Discoveries of the Red Hand,” an extreme brewing and motorcycling expedition that was completed this summer and is set to become a documentary film next year. “I am honored that CAMRA is interested in my work,” Chris explained. “Going to Burton-on-Trent brings this adventure full circle - this is where the story of Arctic Alchemy begins.”
Located 2½ hours northeast of London, Burton-on-Trent grew to become one of England’s most prolific beer producing towns by the mid-19th century. It is the headquarters of world-renowned Bass Ale, and is also where Allsopp’s Arctic Ale was produced in the 1850’s. Queen Victoria commissioned the manufacture of Allsopp’s Arctic Ale to fortify sailors who undertook dangerous explorations in search of the Northwest Passage to the Orient. It is this fabled ale that Bowen recreated from the original historic recipe using glacial waters of Northern Quebec on the Banks of the Hudson and James Bay using his handcrafted portable brewing system. Bowen brought Fegley’s Arctic Ale, a beer he made with Bethlehem BrewWorks from the same recipe, to share with CAMRA members.
The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) is a UK-based, independent, voluntary, consumer organization, which campaigns for real ale, real pubs, and consumer rights. Corporate entities, such as breweries and pubs are not members. There are over 100,000 individual members.
Christopher Bowen made news in the Summer of 2010 with his extreme brewing adventure, “Arctic Alchemy: Discoveries of the Red Hand,” which was featured in Forbes Magazine, Philadelphia Daily News, The Morning Call and on Lehigh Valley’s WDIY radio.
Previously he made news as the first reenactor of Johannes Sebastian Goundie, celebrated 19th century personality, civic leader, and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania’s first official brew master. Bowen has made appearances and recreated a historic brewery for several outdoor festivals and his research was the basis for Historic Bethlehem Partnership’s 2009 - 2010 “Roll Out the Barrel” exhibit at the Goundie House.
Bowen’s first crowning achievement was a 2007 Gold Medal award in partnership with Bethlehem BrewWorks’ Beau Baden in the Pro-Am competition at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver, CO. after only one year of amateur brewing.
For more information about Bowen’s Arctic Adventure, visit www.arcticalchemy.com.
Some vintage bottles auctioned at the Arctic Alchemy event at Bethlehem Brew Works.
There’s Nothing Like an Arctic Brew
A few years ago, we sat on the roofdeck of a of a second story apartment on Main Street in Bethlehem, drinking cold brews on a hot summer day. Out of nowhere, a man dressed in knickers and a puffy shirt mysteriously wandered into the backyard and asked us for a hose. We’re used to seeing some strange things in downtown Bethlehem, but this was a first. Our interest was peaked. That man, as it turned out, was Chris Bowen, local brewer and beer historian (he was demonstrating brewing techniques in full period apparel outside the Goundie House). Little did we know back then that he was then in the midst of feeding an obsession that will culminate at the end of this month with an incredible adventure.
Bowen discovered Allsopp’s Arctic Ale in 2007 and dove into its’ rich history. The beer was first commissioned in 1852 by Queen Victoria to travel with Sir Edward Belcher and a group of Arctic Explorers on 5 British vessels, helping to maintain the health of the crew and prevent scurvy. Belcher’s mission failed and 4 ships were abandoned. One of those ships drifted back after being stuck frozen in the sea for a year, was discovered by Americans and returned to England. The ship’s wood was crafted into two desks - one for Queen Victoria, and one for the President of the United States. These desks remain today in Buckingham Palace and the Oval office.
Bowen, intrigued with the deep history of this 158 year-old brew, has recreated it in collaboration with Fegley’s Brew Works. Tonight it will be available to the public at a special Cask Night and Auction at Bethlehem Brew Works.
But this isn’t the end of his journey - it’s only the beginning. On July 25, he and the Arctic Alchemy riders will set out with their motorcycles and a film crew on a 2,000 mile adventure to the Canadian Arctic. They will visit historical locations, document their journey, and end at the shores of the Hudson/James Bay. Once they reach their destination, they will set up a portable brewery and brew 100 gallons of the original Allsopp’s Ale recipe using water from the Rupert River.
Tonight’s cask sales at the Brew Works will be donated to the Arctic Alchemy project. Come out to show your support, check out the breweriana at the auction, and maybe even snag a cameo in the documentary.
Bowen will depart on his adventure from the Bethlehem Brew Works on July 25 at 12 noon, directly following a send-off event to support the project.
