OUR HISTORY
The London Brewers’ Market is coming back to Brockwell Park for two weekends of amazing music and independent craft beer.
Schwarzbier translates to "black beer" in German and is a style renowned for its dark, almost black colour and complex flavour profile. Originating in the regions of Thuringia and Saxony in Germany, Schwarzbier dates as far back as the Middle Ages. Despite its dark appearance, the Schwarzbier is clean, crisp, remarkably smooth, and approachable, making it a favourite among both beer enthusiasts and newcomers.
One of the defining characteristics of Schwarzbier is the balance of roasted malt sweetness with a clean, crisp finish, which is what you can expect with the latest Orbit Beers White Label Series Special. Expect smooth roasted malts alongside a moderate herbal hop bitterness and flavours of dark chocolate, roasted coffee, and a residual dark caramel sweetness. Dark in colour and light in body; this beer has rich, warming characteristics with deceptively easy drinkability and a refreshing lightness that sets it apart from heavier stouts and porters.
To create this unusual style, our Brewers start with a base of high-quality malts: Lager Malt, BEST Munich, and Carafa Special Type III, which undergoes a roasting process to develop its characteristic dark colour and rich flavour profile. Tettnang hops are added to provide a subtle bitterness that balances the sweetness of the malt. The beer is then top-fermented with our house Kölsch yeast at cool temperatures resulting in a clean, crisp finish that epitomizes this classic German beer style. These days, Schwarzbiers tend to be fermented with lager yeast but that wasn’t always the case, so we've travelled further back in history to take inspiration for this recipe.
Schwarzbier's versatility extends to food pairings as well. Its robust malt backbone complements savoury dishes such as sausages and roasted meats, while its crisp finish helps to cleanse the palate between bites. For dessert, pair a Schwarzbier with something rich like chocolate cake or creamy tiramisu.
We're going to replicate the Cologne/kölsch experience at Orbit Beers Taproom, pouring our freshest batch of Nico on the night, and at around 6pm we'll be tapping a special Nico Night batch, which we'll dispense straight from a barrel on the bar. So, get a bunch of friends together and come on down to our taproom for something a bit different!
We recommend trying to attend as a group for the best experience, smaller groups may need to sit with other people. We will be printing out a handy guide on the night explaining how everything works just in case you forget or anyone wants to join in on the fun.
What does your ticket include?
Tickets include however many stanges of Nico Lager you want to pre-order and will guarantee you a table on the night. Once you’ve reached your ticketed amount you can continue to order as many as you like on the night though, as well as any other food and drinks which will just be charged separately.
Each Nico lager stange (200ml) is priced at £1.95 on the night and by ordering your ticket in advance you can save 15% and secure you and your group a table!
Tickets Here
Unlike other lager styles, Kölsch is often considered a hybrid between a lager and an ale. This is because it is cold-conditioned, as a lager would be, but it is actually fermented using ale yeast. We refer to our Kölsch as a lager, as that's how it's traditionally described in Cologne. There are over 20 breweries in Cologne (Köln) producing Kölsch, and to protect their brewing heritage, there is a law in place that states your beer cannot be called a ‘Kölsch’ unless it’s brewed within the Cologne metropolitan area.
That’s why Orbit’s flagship beer Nico is called a Köln Lager rather than a Kölsch (despite being brewed with a Kölsch yeast).
Our award-winning Köln Lager Nico is lightly carbonated and pours pale golden. Fragrant, herbal hop aroma with lemon citrus and green apple notes. Light on the palate, a touch of bready maltiness, with a more assertive hop character. The crisp bitterness makes it eminently drinkable. Look for the pear drop notes from the distinctive Kölsch yeast as well. Now gluten-free!
Named after Christa Päffgen under her singing alias Nico who hailed from Cologne, the city of Kölsch, an obergäriges (top-fermented) lagerbier.
We’re committed to quality and always aim to champion the unsung heroes of European brewing culture here in the UK, and the Belgian-style wit is certainly one of them!
We’ve seen some cracking wheat beers come and go over the past few years, and have released a few one-off specials ourselves, such as the 2022 Hefeweizen and our 2023 collaboration with Tap Social ‘All Hands On Zest’. So we’ve seen a demand for them, not only as something a little bit different to now ubiquitous hazy pale ales, but something that is also designed to pair so well with food.
The new Peel is available from 1st February on the webshop.
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Cuvée de Cologne is a brewer’s choice blend of complex, oak barrel-aged Nico. This limited release is an annual treat among Orbit drinkers.
Every year Orbit Brewers barrel-age a small portion of Nico Köln Lager in a solera system, leaving it to ferment with specially selected strains of Brettanomyces.
When they fill the barrels with freshly fermented Nico, they do so on top of a small portion of barrel-aged Nico left behind from the previous year’s Cuvée de Cologne. This annual process allows the Cuvée de Cologne to change and develop year on year, whilst retaining links to Nico – the base beer, and previous releases of Cuvée de Cologne.
The 2023 blend was aged in oak barrels for 2 years with a blend of Brettanomyces Lambicus and Brux. With a slightly more funky and complex flavour than our 2022 blend, you can still expect aromas of toasted hay, oaky vanilla, and a subtle touch of lemon sherbet. Smooth bready-malt flavours with restrained bitterness, delicate acidity, and a champagne-like dry finish.
You can get Cuvée de Cologne in our Digger's Series mixed case, in a box of its own, or in the Mixed Birthday Box.
Ogboh is known for his multi-sensory exhibitions and has made several collaborative beers with breweries all over the world. This Strong Golden Ale brewed with the Orbit Beers team celebrates migrant resilience. It connects Peckham and Lagos through the use of English hops (Archer and Opus), alongside traditional Nigerian ingredients - Sugar Cane, Calabash Nutmeg, and Melegueta Pepper. The beer was also fermented at Orbit Brewery under Ogboh’s sound installation so that the beer was “vibrating to the sound of Lagos” during fermentation.
Known as ‘Little Lagos’, Peckham is home to one of the largest Nigerian diaspora communities in the UK. Lagos, Peckham, Repeat: Pilgrimage to the Lakes is a major group exhibition looking at the connections between Lagos in Nigeria and Peckham in South East London.
The exhibition highlights the relationships, culture, shared history, communities, and art that link the two places.
The themes explored include transnational exchange, a sense of place, and the contemporary metropolis. In the bustling megacity of Lagos, there's a popular saying "No Food For Lazy Man” that encapsulates the city that never sleeps. This saying extends into the hearts and minds of those who emigrate in search of a different life.
This 6% Strong Golden Ale is a warm golden colour with a big, fluffy white head. It has sweet, malt aromas with gentle ginger undertones and a woody brightness.
Expect malt biscuit flavours, followed by resinous, herbal thyme notes. A warming sweetness from the malts and sugar cane, balanced by a moreish bitterness from the English hops, and a peppery, spiced finish from the Calabash Nutmeg, & Melegueta Pepper.
Released on 3rd July: Orbit Beers webshop: Case of 12 - £35.99
https://orbitbeers.shop/
South London Gallery, 65-67 Peckham Rd, London, SE5 8UH
South London Gallery Fire Station, 82 Peckham Rd, SE15 5LQ
Available on tap at Orbit Brewery Taproom from Wednesday 5th July.
The exhibition (Lagos, Peckham, Repeat) showcases works by thirteen Nigerian and British Nigerian artists, bringing together sculpture, photography, sound and film. Opening on 5th July 2023 until 29th October 2023. Free to attend.
https://www.southlondongallery.org/exhibitions/lagos-peckham-repeat/
It features several new commissions, a site-specific installation, and a collaboration with South London-based brewery Orbit Beers. The exhibition will also display work made during artist residencies, one in Lagos and one in Peckham, with an aim to further develop lasting creative relationships between the two places.
Artists include:
Emeka Ogboh, Abdulrazaq Awofeso, Seyi Adelekun, Chiizii, Ndidi Dike, Victor Ehikhamenor, Onyeka Igwe, Lagos Studio Archives, Adeyemi Michael, Christopher Obuh, Temitayo Ogunbiyi, Temitayo Shonibare, Yinka Shonibare.
The exhibition is co-curated by Folakunle Oshun, founder and director of the Lagos Biennial, together with South London Gallery.
Emeka Ogboh engages with places by using all five human senses: sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. His art installations and culinary creations incorporate sensory elements to explore how private, public, collective memories, and histories are translated, transformed, and encoded into different sensorial experiences. Ogboh’s works delve into how sensory perceptions capture our connections to the world, shape our comprehension of reality, and offer a backdrop for examining critical issues such as migration, globalization, and post-colonialism.
Ogboh has participated in numerous international exhibitions including documenta 14, (2017), Athens and Kassel, Skulptur Projekte Münster (2017), the 56th edition of La Biennale di Venezia, Italy (2015), and Dakar Biennale (2014).
http://emekaogboh.art/about/
Tap Social have three community spaces in Oxfordshire that you can visit. Check out the Botley taproom (home of the original brew house), the White House by Tap Social (the community cafe, bar and kitchen in central Oxford) and Tap Social Lock29 (their bar within Banbury's Lock29).
The Orbit Beers team headed down to Tap Social Brewery in Oxford to brew a Belgian Wit beer. Head Brewers Paul and Jason came up with the recipe and the rest of the team went down to assist with production and zest a whole lot of blood oranges.
Produced in small amounts, white-label records are distributed by labels to DJs and radio stations to promote new artists and test the listeners’ reactions to their tracks. Orbit Beers’ White Label Series is an ever-growing collection of one-off releases that explore the innovative and experimental side of our brewing. From Hefeweizens and Lentebocks, to Tzatziki Sours, and Barley Wines.
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Orbit’s award-winning Nico Köln Lager is typical of a Cologne Kölsch. The beer is named after musician Christa Päffgen under her singing alias Nico, who hailed from Cologne (the city of Kölsch) and from the famous brewing family Päffgen.
Nico offers a delicate balance of malt and hops that is synonymous with the Kölsch style, and a soft bitterness with a crisp, thirst-quenching, dry finish. Look for green apple and pear drop notes from the distinctive Kölsch yeast.
What is Kölsch and why should you be drinking it?
Unlike other lager styles, Kölsch is often considered a hybrid between a lager and an ale. This is because it is cold-conditioned, as a lager would be, but it is actually fermented using ale yeast. In Cologne, a Kölsch it is considered a lager (a top-fermented lager), whereas in Anglo/American terminology, it is often referred to as an ale. As we have a huge respect for different beer cultures at Orbit, we chose to side with the country where the style was born and describe Nico as a lager as well.
There are over 20 breweries in Cologne (Köln) producing Kölsch, and to protect their brewing heritage, there is a law in place that states your beer cannot be called a ‘Kölsch’ unless it’s brewed within the Cologne metropolitan area.
That’s why Orbit’s flagship beer Nico is called a Köln Lager rather than a Kölsch (despite being brewed with a Kölsch yeast) to respect the Cologne law and their brewing traditions.
Our award-winning Köln Lager Nico is lightly carbonated and pours pale golden. Fragrant, herbal hop aroma with lemon citrus and green apple notes. Light on the palate, a touch of bready maltiness, with an assertive hop character. The crisp bitterness makes it eminently drinkable.
Is Nico Gluten-free?
Our award-winning Nico Köln Lager is now classified as gluten-free. Whilst it's still made with malted barley, we use an enzyme called Brewer’s Clarex, which reduces the gluten content to below 20ppm which is the legal requirement to list a product as ‘gluten-free’ in the UK.
To ensure that it’s compliant with current laws and regulations, we regularly have Nico tested by an independent UKAS-accredited lab, to ensure that our parts per million (ppm) sits below the legal requirement of 20 ppm (parts per million).
This enzyme doesn’t affect the taste but means it is safe to drink for many people who are sensitive to gluten. We demonstrate this on the bottle labels using a simple GF icon, whilst still listing barley malt in the ingredients list as an allergen, along with Brewer’s Clarex.
Nico Nights: A Cologne Drinking Experience in London
At Orbit, we love European beer culture. This is why we champion these beer styles and host Nico nights at our taproom, to recreate a Cologne drinking experience in South London. If you want to come along to the next one, follow us on social or sign up for our email newsletter to find out more.
This limited edition kombucha is equal parts complex and refreshing. Hallertau Blanc and Nelson Sauvin hops provide tropical fruit and gooseberry flavours, rounded out with a tart kombucha hit.
Hops have a complex flavour base, mapping citrus tones and herbal, earthy notes, which make them an absolutely astonishing match for fully fermented tart kombucha like MOMO's.
We could think of no better partner than MOMO - we’ve admired their traditional method of brewing kombucha down the road in Nine Elms in London for many years and love working with and sharing recipes and ideas with their team. Our first collaborative batch was brewed in January 2021. It was so well received, winning a Great Taste Award, that we decided to brew it again in time for January 2024.
You can try this collab at the taproom, order bottles directly from MOMO's website, or in Selfridges.
We're excited to announce our new kitchen residency at Orbit Taproom - Yucatan London, Mexican street food, starting on Friday 16th September 2022.
Specialising in traditional Southern Mexican cuisine with an LA twist, you can expect, Tacos, Burritos, Tortillas, and Quesadillas with a fiery kick, a balance of sweet and savoury sauces, and fresh garnishes.
Yucatan Founder, Spencer Wellman is a native of Los Angeles. Having lived in San Francisco for many years, he has learnt a great deal about Yucatan cuisine and has since worked at some of the best restaurants in the world including The Slanted Door, The French Laundry, OTD Bush, and The Ledbury in London.
What began as a weekly taco night hosted for friends at his home in London, has since grown into a successful street food business popping up at over 30-40 London venues in the past 3 years. Next stop? Orbit Taproom, so come down to sample Yucatan's delicious new menu while they're here.
There are over 20 breweries in Cologne (Köln) producing Kölsch, and to protect their brewing heritage, there is a law in place that states your beer cannot be called a ‘Kölsch’ unless it’s brewed within the Cologne metropolitan area.
That’s why Orbit’s flagship beer Nico is called a Köln Lager rather than a Kölsch (despite being brewed with a Kölsch yeast) to respect the Cologne law and their brewing traditions.
"We thought that the beer was very pleasant in every way. The nose was crisp and subtle and the maltiness was restrained and provided a delicious backbone."
"Easy-drinking, slightly hazed, straw-coloured lager with a sweet bready nose and a soft textured finish. Well balanced and you can't help think but that it's been well made to show such finesse."
"The flavour is bready, with a nicely balanced sweetness and a very long finish. It would be great with food, standing up to stronger flavours."
"The aroma is herbaceous and dangerously easy to drink for an ABV of 4.8! The palate is herbal, rounded, and the mouthfeel is pleasant. We felt we could drink a fair amount of this!"
To find out more about gluten-free diet and processes, visit Celiac.org
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A beer to fit tightly within our ethos at Orbit Beers, paying homage to European brewing heritage and traditions. Named after the runoff area on vinyl records, with a nod to Seven (named for the 7” single) our Double Brown Stout which we have brewed in previous winters at Orbit.
Dead Wax is our take on a classic London Porter. Based on the late nineteenth-century interpretation of the style. Complex rich malt, with aromas of chocolate, coffee, caramel and malty biscuit. More chocolate, coffee and black treacle on the palate. Rich full body, robust bitterness and a subtle earthy/lemony hop character combine to create a distinctively dry and drinkable dark ruby-coloured beer.
Great Taste 3-stars: Exquisite
"Extraordinarily tasty – around 2% of products are awarded 3-stars each year. Don’t leave the shop without buying it!"
"Great looking with attractive differentiation between the creamy head and dark body. This porter delivers both on the nose and the flavour. Rich and oozing quality, the flavours dance from marmalade to chocolate and sweet bitterness leaving a satisfyingly long and gentle finish. Good for pairing with meats and stews and more."
"A good example of a porter with a rich dark ruby colour, sturdy cap of foam, delicious malt notes and a rich, toasted, bitter finish."
"What a truly stunning aroma of yoghurt, mint and tzatziki and back notes of beer hops, and the instant sour characteristics are delivered very well to the palate, followed by the beer hops and cucumber and subtle lactic yoghurt flavours. The beer is balanced, good fun, pleasing, well brewed, interesting, complex and over all very enjoyable to drink. Your creation has made us smile."
"Very much a Berliner Weisse and indeed with good replication of Tzatziki on nose and palate. The sourness is well managed and unaggressive, and the flavours persist nicely to a clean finish. Strange and strangely enjoyable."
"An extremely intriguing beer! The initial sour notes on the nose were well received.. The beer is indeed delightfully sour and delivers the flavours of tzatziki."
Joining the dots between Brazilian musical culture and the sonic melting pot that is New York City, Saidera are a trio on the rise. They’ve already released a pair of critically acclaimed, carnival-ready singles on Brooklyn’s Let’s Play House label and are now ready to make their debut on Leng Records.
Now based in Rio and California, the group’s sun-soaked sound – which they describe as “samba disco-Afro melody” – is a cross-cultural stew in which infectious Brazilian percussion, colourful synth sounds, glistening guitars and celebratory vocals combine to create magical, life-affirming musical moments.
‘Luzes Da Cidade’, their first outing on Leng Records, encapsulates all that’s good about the Saidera sound and the trio’s approach to music. The song is about identity and connection and in its original form is languid, loved-up and joyous, with acoustic and electric guitars, Portuguese vocals and Korey Riker’s gently breezy flute solos rising above a squelchy synth bassline and energetic, sweat-soaked samba drums.
The perfect accompaniment to the Helles Lager!
Orbit’s Vienna Lager was brewed together with Laine Brew Co. and Honest Burgers to complement their delicious summer menu. This moreish, copper-coloured lager offers toasted malt flavours and a touch of caramel-like sweetness which is balanced with noble hops for a crisp, dry finish.
The Vienna Lager is a traditional style originating in Austria in the 1840s. It's malt-forward and creamy, with a clean finish, light body, and off-white foam head. It is refreshingly crisp and cuts through fried food. Yet the soft, toasted malts perfectly complement the flavours of beef, smoky bacon, cheese, and onion.
The Vienna Lager is available in Honest Burgers nationwide from 5th July alongside Orbit Ivo Pale Ale and Orbit Peel Belgian Pale in selected locations.
You can order Honest Burgers for delivery via Uber Eats, or visit their website to find your nearest location and check out the menus.
You can get Cuvée de Cologne in our Digger's Series mixed case, in a box of its own, and alongside the XX Nico and Nico celebration beers together in our July birthday box.
‘Like many chefs, I started off washing pots at the age of 14, and I liked the lifestyle, the environment, and the challenges that came with the fast-paced shifts. Plus once I was given a chance to do some cooking, I realised I was pretty good at it!
Having ADHD, I’m lucky that my hyperfocus is cooking, as many people with the condition can’t choose what they hyperfocus on. It can be really debilitating if it is something that distracts or hinders the process, but I thrive on being busy and creative under pressure.’
One of the learnings that Martin has picked up through experimentation and research is the seven tastes we can detect on the tongue: sweet, bitter, sour, salty, meaty (umami), cool, and hot. His dishes aim to balance all these elements perfectly, along with a variety of textures and flavours.
Lightnin’ Hot Things was born from a desire to see a change in an industry that is notorious for overlooking its staff. Years spent working in traditional kitchens took their toll on Martin’s mental health, and he wanted to show that he could do things differently if given the opportunity. The well-being of Martin’s staff is his main priority: fair pay, flexibility, creative input, and a positive working environment. He also wanted to showcase that good food doesn’t need to be overcomplicated, overpriced, or served in a formal setting.
‘I enjoy the learning process, and feedback from customers and staff on what works and what doesn’t. Cooking at a taproom, I try to pair each menu with the Orbit Beers of the season. So many different flavours come through from their beers, and they cut through rich dishes brilliantly. Orbit beers are quite lightly carbonated as well, which is perfect to serve with food, as it doesn’t fill you up too much.’
The menu is updated regularly, which can be found on the Orbit News and Events pages, or on Martin’s Instagram @lightninhotthings. The new summer menu has some brilliant additions such as confit cauliflower and Portuguese octopus salad, as well as some familiar favourites, like croquettes and the ragu melt.
Georgia, Facebook Reviews - I am astounded at not only the quality but also how delicious the Sunday Lunch we had here today was. Huge compliments to the chef. The flavours were impeccable, nothing can be faulted, everything cooked to perfection. I can’t believe what I just ate! I didn’t want the eating session to end. Highly recommend!
Dan, Google Reviews - The food is fantastic - chefs Lightnin’ Hot Things cooking in the corner of the bar serving food that would not be out of place in a great restaurant. I had the beef cheeks, and can't wait to go back for more. The Sunday Roast also sounds excellent!
Nick, Google Reviews- Two fantastic meals in a week. First off I had the ox cheek lasagne which was delicious, Mitcham Belle had the Cretan salad which I nicked quite a lot of and was also really great. Went back today for Yorkshire lamb and the roast beef. I have to say the lamb was fantastic and that’s coming from a Welshman, sweet and tender. If you think you are going to get a huge plate of meat and veg go check out the prices of food, what you do get is proper quality food cooked really well, lovely veg and good gravy. I really rate this place and you get the added bonus of Orbit beers which I think I’ve tried virtually everyone.
Stuart, Google Reviews - They’ve done the impossible with this place; excellent craft beer (and I mean excellent - a competitor to Verdant, Cloudwater; a top tier UK craft), twinned with a pop-up that serves an incredible seasonal menu, and the best roast I’ve had in London. St. John style simple dishes, outstanding beer. So good here.
]]>When the beers have been served, the köbe will mark your beer mat (pictured below) to keep track of how many you've had. When your beer is nearly empty the köbe will bring another stange, and another, until you place a beer mat atop your glass, signalling you've had your fill.
We're going to replicate the Cologne/kölsch experience at Orbit Beers Taproom, pouring our freshest batch of Nico on the night, and at around 8pm we'll be tapping a special Nico Night batch, which we'll dispense straight from a barrel on the bar. So, get a bunch of friends together and come on down to our taproom for something a bit different!
We recommend trying to attend as a group for the best experience, smaller groups may need to sit with other people. We will be printing out a handy guide on the night explaining how everything works just in case you forget or anyone wants to join in on the fun.
What does your ticket include?
Your ticket includes your first 200ml of Nico, our Kolsch-style lager, and a traditional Cologne appetiser.
The event starts from 7pm but we will contact you closer to the time to ask what time you'd like to arrive and which appetiser option you would like to choose.
Appetiser Options:
To be confirmed.
More Food & Drink:
Any more Nicos you order will be marked on your beer mat (as pictured above) and any additional drinks and food you order will be added to your tab the usual way.
We'll also be serving traditional German food specials on the night, courtesy of our resident chef @LightninHotThings
Our award-winning Köln Lager Nico is lightly carbonated and pours pale golden. Fragrant, herbal hop aroma with lemon citrus and green apple notes. Light on the palate, a touch of bready maltiness, with a more assertive hop character. The crisp bitterness makes it eminently drinkable. Look for the pear drop notes from the distinctive Kölsch yeast as well.
Named after Christa Päffgen under her singing alias Nico who hailed from Cologne, the city of Kölsch, an obergäriges (top-fermented) lagerbier.
Hakata Tonkotsu
(Shio tare with our 12-hour pork broth, beni shoga & chashu pork)
Kumamoto
(Shio tare with our 12-hour pork broth, chashu pork, wood ear mushrooms, garlic chips & burnt garlic oil)
Shoyu
(Soy tare with our Shiitake mushroom broth, beni shoga + choice of pork, chicken or mushrooms)
Miso
(Miso tare with our Shiitake mushroom broth & charred sweetcorn + choice of pork, chicken or mushrooms)
Spicy Miso
(Miso tare with our Shiitake mushroom broth, burnt sweetcorn & chilli bits + choice of pork, chicken or mushrooms)
‘How we cook our Noodles’ - as standard, we serve our noodles ‘Hard’. Please let your server know if you would prefer your noodles cooked ‘Soft’ or ‘Very Hard’
Tonkotsu
(vegan ‘Tonkotsu’ tare with Shiitake mushroom broth, beni shoga, tofu karaage & soya mince)
Kumamoto
(vegan ‘Tonkotsu’ tare with Shiitake mushroom broth, wood ear mushrooms, tofu karaage, soya mince, garlic chips & burnt garlic oil)
Shoyu
(Soy tare with our Shiitake mushroom broth, beni shoga & mushroom selection)
Miso
(Miso tare with our Shiitake mushroom broth, burnt sweetcorn & mushroom selection)
Spicy Miso
(Miso tare with our Shiitake mushroom broth, chilli bits, burnt sweetcorn & mushroom selection)
‘How we cook our Noodles’ - as standard, we serve our noodles ‘Hard’. Please let your server know if you would prefer your noodles cooked ‘Soft’ or ‘Very Hard’
Soy stained soft-boiled egg £1.20
Chashu Pork (per slice) £1.75
Shredded Chicken (per portion) £2.75
Mushroom Selection (per portion) £2.75
Tofu Karaage (2 pieces) £2.50
Spicy Soy Mince £3.00
Menma (fermented bamboo) £0.80
Yakinori (roasted seaweed) £0.80
Beni Shoga (pickled ginger) £0.80
Beansprouts £0.60
Burnt Corn £1.20
Garlic Chips £0.50
Kaedama (portion of noodles) £2.50
GF Noodles (supplement price) £1.50
Chashu Pork £4.50
Chicken Karaage £4.50
Aubergine Katsu (vegan) £4.50
Tofu & Mushrooom (vegan) £4.50
Any 2 Hirata - £8.50
Pork £7.25
Chicken £7.25
Aubergine (v) £6.95
Soy Garlic £5.95
Gochugaru (spicy) £5.95
Soy Garlic (2pcs / 4pcs) £4.95 / £9.50
Gochugaru (spicy) (2pcs / 4pcs) £4.95/ £9.50
Chicken £4.75
Prawn £4.95
Pork £4.75
Vegetable (vegan) £4.50
Chicken Karaage with yuzu kosho mayo £5.50
Tofu Karaage with spicy ponzu (vegan) £4.95
Sweetcorn Ribs w/ BBQ or Gochugaru sauce (vegan) £4.95
Aubergine Karaage with Japanese BBQ sauce (vegan) £4.75
Kimchi (vegan) £3.50
Edamame with Maldon sea salt (vegan) £3.50
Spicy Edamame (vegan) £4.00
Hackney Gelato’s Sorbetto (vegan) per scoop £1.75
(Dark Chocolate / Coconut / Raspberry / Mango)
(2/3 pint serve)
Orbit ‘NICO’ Köln Lager (4.8%) £4.20
(Köln style lager, brewed locally in Walworth, UK)
Orbit ‘IVO’ Pale Ale (4.5%) £4.20
(Tropical fruit, hoppy & dry bitter finish. Walworth, UK)
(330ml unless stated)
Orbit HAKATA ‘Sorachi’ Pale Ale (4.8%) £5.50
Orbit English Pale Ale (5.9%) £5.95
Orbit ‘Dead Wax’ Porter (5.5%) £5.95
Cryals Classic Premium Cider (5.3%) £5.95
Big Drop Pale Ale (non-alc. / 0.5%) £4.75
Lucky Saint Lager (non-alc. / 0.5%) £4.75
SPBW Woodfest 2022
Woodfest 2022 is organised by 'The Society for The Preservation of Beers from the Wood' who celebrate traditional beer styles served from wooden casks. The aim of the society is to stimulate the brewing and encourage the drinking of traditional draught beer, drawn direct from the cask by gravity, by a hand pump, or by other methods approved by the National Executive Committee (this includes bottle conditioned beer). Although the Society does not specifically campaign for the use of wooden casks for beer dispense, it supports and encourages breweries and pubs that use them and coopers that produce them.
It is the only beer festival in the country that serves all its real ale exclusively from wooden casks.
The 3rd Woodfest will be held between Wednesday 25th to Saturday 28th May 2022 at the Turk’s Head, St Margarets, Twickenham.
Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.spbw.beer/woodfest-2022/
The London Brewers’ Market is coming back to Brockwell Park for two weekends of amazing music and independent craft beer.
We will be serving up our core range and seasonal favourites across five live music festivals and three community days.
Find tickets for the music festivals below or join us 30 May – 1 June for free entry.
Brockwell Bounce - Free
We'll be serving your favourites, along with some seasonal specials and brand new releases for 2022, including our new Apple Pie Sour!
See you there.
A huge thank you to everyone that took part on the day. We can't wait to do it all again next year!
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Photo by Sophia Sideri on Unsplash
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OUR HISTORY
Our story began when our Founder, Robert, set off on a journey in his VW campervan, Brian. His mission was clear: to discover beer in the land of whisky! This expedition took him (and Brian) to every single brewery in his native Scotland, from the northernmost island in Shetland to the Outer Hebrides, the Scottish Borders and even his home town of Dundee. The result was a book called The Tea Leaf Paradox and a burning desire to create Orbit Beers.
We moved into our double railway arch in Walworth, South London in early 2014 brewing our first batch there on July 1st of the same year. Since then all subsequent beers have been brewed and packaged on our site which has now expanded to include the arch next door.
Robert’s earliest memory is his fascination with vinyl records and in particular the distinctive, varying designs of the spindle adaptors that lived in the centre of his sisters’ 7″ singles, stacked above the turntable, ready to play. Around this time his new friends knew him as ‘Orbit’, a result of childhood difficulties pronouncing ‘Robert’.
At the inception of the brewery, it seemed fitting to bring to life that early nickname and his first iconic image to form our logo and our name, Orbit Beers.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
The beers we brew at Orbit Beers are deeply rooted in European tradition, with a modern approach. We take classic styles and we make them our own, with an eye for finesse and drinkability.
We love the incredible balance of the beers of Germany, from Dusseldorf and Cologne in the Rhineland to the kellers of Franconia. We love the complexity of flavours that Belgian yeasts produce. We love hops, the spicy elegance of classic European ones, the zesty aromas of New Zealand varieties, and the fruity extremes of their American counterparts.
Our work is inspired by the ethos of our favourite record labels, who hold music and art above all else. Likewise, we accept no compromises when it comes to making our beer. We are Orbit Beers, we encourage you to listen, think, and drink independent.
So, why do vinyl records matter so much? They sound more warm and natural, as the artist intended. It’s a multi-sensory experience – flipping the record, reading the liner notes, sniffing the gatefold sleeve (maybe that last one is just me) and reading the words scratched into the Dead Wax. We watch movies start to finish, theatre works through its acts and scenes, but music has become pick and mix, skip and jump. An album on vinyl demands that you sit and listen, from start to finish. It offers levels of holistic satisfaction not easily available elsewhere.
However, please don’t take my word for it. Instead, I heartily recommend you invest in ‘Why Vinyl Matters’ by Jennifer Otter Bickerdike. Jennifer is also presently writing a book about Christa Pӓffgen (better known as Nico). Christa was born in Cologne and descended from the family that founded the finest Kӧlsch brewery in town. That’s why we named our Kӧlsch after her.
‘These Days’ from her album ‘Chelsea Girl’ features on our RSD Ghosts playlist.
As ever, there are many records being released specially for RSD, despite it being ‘furloughed’. You can find the list online, but three in particular stole my attention. The first is by Status Quo.
For those of you still here, let me explain. I loved the Quo in the early 70s. Long before they became the karaoke act many of you will now recognise. In 1970 they released a little known album called ‘Ma Kelly’s Greasy Spoon’. The cover art shows a picture of the lady herself, fag in mouth, cuppa to hand. This new release features the original album, but on fried egg vinyl. Surely a must-have for any full-English loving vinyl collector. ‘(April), spring, summer and Wednesdays’ features on our playlist.
My second choice is of course from 4AD, the label founded by Ivo Watts-Russell in 1980, which redefined what labels were all about. He meticulously curated not just the bands and the music, but also the ethos and the artwork. The latter was the passion of his first-ever employee, Vaughan Oliver, who sadly passed recently, but we shall always treasure the memories of working with him at Orbit on his Pixies album art retrospective and drinking Hey IPA with Frank Black. I have chosen the Pale Saints’ release of their singles collection ‘Mrs Dolphin’. I loved this band back in the day and felt they really personified the 4AD sound and spirit of the time. ‘Sight of You’ graces our compilation.
My final choice is The Big Moon, RSD2020 Ambassadors. These guys have released two great records to date (‘Your Light’ from their new album features here) and are one of the very best live acts I’ve seen in quite a while.
If you’re still paying attention at the back, you will have noticed that we have so far name-checked three of our core beers. I’m going to complete the set by mentioning another track on the playlist, ‘First Day on a New Planet’, by Urusei Yatsura (Peel Session). These guys were a joyful, lush, low-fi band from Glasgow back in the 90s – really highly recommended to fans of that genre. So many great songs I could have chosen, but I hope you enjoy this one.
To complete our eclectic playlist I’ve chosen a few more tracks that I discovered through the medium of vinyl and which, in one way or another, made a significant impact in my life. For many years now I have only bought vinyl records and feel that every true music fan should have a collection – at least of their most favourite albums. These strange times of lockdown could not be a better opportunity to discover music through the medium that has served us so well for a century. It’s not just how it sounds, it’s how it feels. Happy Record Store Day everyone!
Robert (formerly known as Orbit)
Founder of Orbit Beers