ARCHIPRESSO - The artisanal product of a Brewmaster and Barista

Archipelago Brewery and 40 Hands collaborate to brew up a craft beer cuppa-joe

Archipelago Brewery and 40 Hands announces the launch of Singapore’s first locally brewed coffee inspired craft beer. Archipresso is a German style black lager (Schwarzbier) brewed with rich luscious malts and high-quality coffee.

Archipresso is the result of a collaboration born after hours of serious espresso drinking at 40 Hands and the meeting of two artisanal craftspersons, Colin Paige, Brewmaster of Archipelago Brewery and Harry Grover, Head Barista and Proprietor of 40 Hands.

English Brown malt was used to add an earthy raisin like character, chocolate malt was added for reasons the name suggest and malted roasted wheat delivers a subtle “campfire from a 100 yards” lightly burnt quality. English Crystal and aromatic malts add to the caramelized, biscuit malt character with Munich Malt making up the remaining grist to round out and create a canvas for some serious coffee addition. Archipresso is a malt-driven beer but the smart use of English Challenger hops creates enough balancing bitterness, with English Fuggles hops adding to the earthy chocolaty character. Once ready, Archipresso is aiming to be one of the richest lagers to be brewed locally.

The 40 Hands house blend, carefully created by Harry Grover, comprises 4 Single Origin Specialty Coffees with Costa Rican, Columbian, Guatemalan and Papua New Guinean coffee beans that are individually roasted and then blended together to give a unique profile. Made specifically to cater to the local palette, it is well-loved by consumers for its notes of dark chocolate and cigar smoke. The bold, rich flavours of the house blend, as well as its sparkling acidity, give it a pleasant lingering aftertaste and add extra kick and complexity to Archipresso. Marrying the 40 Hands house blend with the roasted malts into one end product was a fine balancing act that demanded the most from the 2 craftsmen.

Over a double-shot, Colin and Harry decided upon a “double-shot” – with the 40 Hands house blend added to the beer at different stages of the crafting process. 40 Hands coffee beans have been ground à la minute and added very late in the boil to retain their luscious coffee aroma. Then in true German style, this beer has been lagered for a month, after which the craftsmen added whole roast 40 Hands coffee beans to impart even more flavor and complexity.

Colin Paige, Brewmaster of Archipelago Brewery said: “Beer and coffee are two beverages well enjoyed by Singaporeans and residents alike, and to be able to bring them together in this craft brew is extremely fulfilling for both Harry and I. We are confident that craft beer and Third Wave Coffee aficionados’ will enjoy this product. This brew is as much about coming up with something new, as well as to build partnerships across industry. In true Archipelago style, we are bringing forward the Explore, Discover and Enjoy mantra to our fans and consumers”.

Harry Grover, Director of 40 Hands, agrees: “As a long-time fan of craft beer, I am excited to see excellent craft beers getting more attention in Singapore. A lot of people still view beer as a working-man's drink and focus their attention on wines. But the level of complexity and skill required to make this beer makes it a work of art. So much knowledge and skill goes into the brewing of craft beers, which is very similar to the coffee scene. Just like coffee, I think the average consumer has an idea in their minds about what beer 'tastes like’. I am excited about Archipresso as I hope that it will stoke consumers’ curiosity and give them a new appreciation for craft beer and specialty coffee. It's also an exciting time for the Singapore coffee scene as it continues to develop based on traditional tastes, innovation and experimentation.”

Commenting on Archipelago’s latest Limited Edition variant, Hoshang Mehta, Head of Archipelago Brewery said, “Innovation is the heart of a microbrewery dedicated to world class craft beers and this is our driving force at the Archipelago Brewery. It all begins with an idea, often themed to an occasion or pegged to a particular brewing style that is rich in heritage, allowing us to create world beers that deliver experiences beyond the ordinary. The journey continues as microbreweries like Archipelago and craft beer fans explore newer cutting-edge inventions and discover new pleasures of the palate. There is great beer in life for those who are willing to take the journey. Explore. Discover. Enjoy.”

Archipresso marks its debut at 40 Hands on 13th February 2012. In the next two weeks, Archipelago concept bars will begin to receive their first batches of the brew. Archipresso is 4.8% ABV and will retail at a range of $12 - $15 per pint.

40 Hands is located at 78 Yong Siak Street.

Media Contacts:

Brendan Sheares
Asia Pacific Breweries
Email: Brendan.sheares@apb.com.sg DID: +65 6860-3003
Cell: +65 9858-4111

Janet Lim
Spa Esprit Group
Email: Janet@spa-esprit.com DID: +65 6475-3842
Cell: +65 8182 7544

About Archipelago Brewery

Our Brewmasters have been handcrafting specialty beers since our story began as part of the Archipel Brouwerij Companie Batavia in 1931. Today Archipelago Brewery has grown from strength to strength, racking up international awards and special mentions for our imaginative blend of delicious craft beers that still honour our German brewing traditions. So come on Explore, Discover and Enjoy. There is great beer in life for those who are willing to take the journey. Core variants of Archipelago’s craft range include, Archipelago Belgian Wit, Archipelago Summer Ale, Archipelago Irish Ale and Archipelago Bohemian Lager.

Archipelago has picked up a number of awards and accolades to date, including the Brewing Industry International Awards, World Beer Cup, Australian International Beer Awards, Brew NZ and the Japanese Beer Awards.

About 40 Hands

40 Hands is the pioneer of the Third Wave Coffee movement in Singapore, an on-going crusade to product high-quality coffee to the local market. Aside from striving to elevate the status of coffee appreciation, 40 HANDS also endeavours to promote sustainability by opting for direct trade and offering specialty coffee.

40 Hands offers two types of coffee daily - a resident House Blend and a Specialty Blend that rotates on a monthly basis. Every bean has been deliberately sourced for its quality, flavour and aroma. To complement these tantalising beverages are a hearty spread of hand- made sandwiches, cakes and the most amazing Tau Sar Pau.