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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.
