Chef Simon Rogan’s Our Farm team has joined forces with Cumbrian craft brewery, Fell, to launch a new creation, a Damson & Perilla Sour, the fourth release in their ongoing series of collaborative beers celebrating locally grown and foraged ingredients created for the ‘Local Heroes’ project hosted twice yearly at Rogan & Co.
This limited-edition sour pairs tart Cumbrian damsons with the aromatic, herbal character of perilla, an Asian member of the mint family, to create a beer layered with delicate notes of anise, liquorice, and cinnamon. Designed to capture the essence of autumn, the release continues the productive partnership between Our Farm and Fell Brewery, which began in 2023.
Based in Cumbria, Fell Brewery is renowned for producing craft beers deeply rooted in their surroundings. Founder Tim Bloomer, who grew up locally, has built a brewing philosophy centred on the landscape and community that inspire him.
His commitment to sourcing and producing ingredients locally underpins Fell’s mission to demonstrate how small, independent breweries can positively impact their local area, economy, and environment.
Liam Fitzpatrick, head chef of Our Farm, is responsible for making the most of ingredients grown by Our Farm, including developing ways of using surplus produce to avoid waste by creating food products for Our Shop and Home by Simon Rogan, whether that be condiments, jams, honey, oil and vinaigrette infusions and a whole range of innovative uses.
This shared ethos of provenance, quality, and sustainability, combined with the proximity of the two businesses, made collaboration between Fell Brewery and Our Farm a natural fit. Together, they celebrate the Cumbrian landscape, its seasons, and the people who cultivate it.
The chance to collaborate has been a truly beneficial experience for both teams, encouraging them to learn new skills, share ideas and examine new approaches to working together sustainably, whilst also producing great beers made using locally grown and sourced ingredients.
Kayleigh Thorogood, assistant operations manager with the Umbel restaurant group, said: “Our partnership with Fell Brewery perfectly captures the ethos of our Local Heroes initiative,” said Kayleigh Thorogood, Assistant Operations Manager for the Umbel restaurant group. “It’s about forming genuine relationships with like-minded producers who share our commitment to provenance and sustainability. The Damson & Perilla Sour is a great example of what can be achieved through collaboration — a beer that truly reflects the character of our region.”
The Local Heroes, a Rogan & Co. led initiative, now in its second year, connects the restaurant team with independent Cumbrian producers through a series of seasonal collaborations. The new beer will feature as part of Local Heroes Week, taking place from 4th to 8th November, when guests can enjoy it alongside specially curated tasting menus.
Damson & Perilla Sour is available through Home by Simon Rogan and Simon Rogan’s Lake District restaurants, as well as for purchase through Fell bars in Cumbria and their e-retail site. https://www.simonrogan.co.uk/
Photography: Nina Claridge
