master-cooks | There's An Ale Made From The Yeast Of Roald Dahl's Chair. No, Seriously

There’s a unique ale that pays homage to the beloved author Roald Dahl, and it’s brewed using yeast harvested from one of his personal chairs. This peculiar innovation is the brainchild of Oxford University’s microbiologist Dr. Keith Thomas and the team at 40FT Brewery. Thomas isolated the yeast from an old chair that Dahl used in his writing hut, where he crafted many of his famous stories. The yeast was then cultivated and used in the brewing process to create a distinctive beer that captures a bit of literary history. The ale, which has been described as having a tangy, fruity flavor, offers an unusual connection to the world of storytelling and imagination that Dahl inspired. This project not only celebrates Dahl's creative genius but also highlights the intriguing intersection of science and literature. The idea of combining microorganisms with cultural icons creates a novel experience for both beer enthusiasts and fans of Dahl’s work. This ale serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of Roald Dahl, offering a taste of history in a glass, and exemplifying how traditions can be reimagined in unexpected ways.

What does the Roald Dahl chair yeast beer taste like, and can you still try it?

The whimsical stunt suds reminiscent of Willy Wonka have seemingly never been available in local U.K. stores, nor were they found in the United States. Currently, they are also absent from the brewery's website. The online retailer The Whisky Exchange lists Mr. Twit's Odious Ale as out of stock at the time of this article's release, describing it merely as an oak-smoked wheat beer. However, on the social beer discovery platform Untappd, users checking in at 40FT have noted it as smoky, but also sour and spicy. Some have even picked up citrus notes, reminiscent of a radler or a shandy.

The creative minds at 40FT, who have been producing inventive beverages since 2015, have taken a less macabre approach in their recent offerings. Instead of drawing from old literary themes, the brewery's latest lagers, hazy pale ales, and schwarzbiers are inspired by disco, the Dalston sunrise, and, almost as surprising as the Dahl creation, hotel restaurant roast chicken.

There's An Ale Made From The Yeast Of Roald Dahl's Chair. No, Seriously

What does the Roald Dahl chair yeast beer taste like, and can you still try it?

Recommended

Next up

You May Also Like

Lunch Recipes

Costco

Kitchen

Food History