Go Out

Everyone knows that without bees we’d all be in a very difficult place environmentally, and that is one of the reason Hiver has made it their cause from the beginning to help British beekeepers by sponsoring and using their honey within their beer.

For instance if you look at any plate of food we eat, bees have most likely played a big part in either pollinating the many vegetables and fruits we eat directly or pollinating the food for the animals that we then consume. Plus that’s not all bees do for us, as honey and wax are two other important products that come courtesy of bees.

As a lover of bees, honey and beer Hiver is the perfect beer to have. Plus the beauty about Hiver is that all their beer uses honey which they source from three select Bee Keeping farms here within the British Isles.

Thanks to Hiver I was invited down on a press related invite to learn more about their beers as well as bees.

Hiver Urban Experience in Kennington

Discovering about bees and Hiver beer.

Bee Urban

Since 2015 Bee Urban has been looking after honey bees, growing herbs, fruit and vegetables. Their site is in Kennington Park, The Hive is situated behind the cafe and in front of St Agnes church in Kennington Park.

Bee Urban honey bees are a social enterprise that aims to work with communities to improve the environment for the benefit of us all. They focus on responsible urban beekeeping, horticulture and community growing.

The pond and garden area is a space to come and learn about beekeeping, organic gardening and sustainable living, whilst providing nectar and forage for the bees in our apiary. Their cob oven is regularly used for their home made pizza sessions.

Within the workshop educational classes take place from beekeeping demonstrations, gardening and training sessions. Plus there is a small shop within where you can purchase candle-making equipment, honey and so much more.

Hiver

Since 2013 Hiver has been brewing their honey beer with their first beer being their flagship natural blonde beer.

Hiver was born out of an admiration for London’s urban beekeepers and a passion for craft beer. Hannah Rhodes, was the one who was inspired to create a quality beer using honey, following the discovery of the vast array of honey produced in London. The number of bee hives in London has soared in recent years following news that global bee numbers were in rapid decline. Unpasteurised, more textured and flavourful honey is used in the brewing process, contributing to the taste and body of the beer. Since brewing Hiver has gone from strength to strength with listings at Ocado, Marks & Spencers, and a number of independent merchants and pubs.

All of Hiver beers use raw honey which is sourced from independent British beekeepers, in whom they sponsor and run fun experiences at as also helping spread the knowledge about the role of bees and bee keepers are equally as important to them. They also believe that supporting the beekeepers they work with is one of the best ways to support British bees and helps give us all the best insight in how we should help support bee populations by planting for bees. With every web order at Hiver you will receive a free seasonal flower pack of seeds too, to plant and help bees. Plus working towards B-Corp accreditation they pledge to donate 10% of profits to pollinator and green spacing projects.

Hiver uses honey as an integral part of their brewing process, helping to deliver crisp, light tasting beer with a subtle honey aroma and flavour. Hiver never pasteurise their beer either, which means you will always get the freshest, most natural beer in your glass.

Hiver also has gone the extra mile working with local suppliers, from the people that kiln their glass, produce their labels and stamp their business card keeping to a low carbon footprint.

No wonder Hiver has won a number of awards from Britain’s Next Top Supplier to being the only British medal winner at the World Beer Challenge (with two gold medals) in 2018, a recent European Beer Star Gold and an industry award for Corporate Social Responsibility gets Hiver into the Best of British Beers.