The 'black stuff' - Cornish style

l Skinners head brewer Will Freeland shows off a novel pint - containing the ingredients of Pennycomequick stout - to Gerry Wills (left), organiser of CAMRA's Falmouth Beer Festival, and Mike Rangecroft, of the Falmouth Oyster Festival.

October 5, 2006: The build-up to two big events in Falmouth later this month included a well-earned break for refreshment, with organisers adjourning to Skinners Brewery in Truro, Cornwall, for the first brewing of this year’s Pennycomequick Cornish stout.

The dedicated “black stuff” will go on sale at the Falmouth Oyster Festival (October 19-22) and Falmouth Beer Festival (October 20-21), and then be available across Cornwall.

Gerry Wills, of the Campaign for Real Ale, and Mike Rangecroft, of the oyster festival, were among those attending the special “mash-in” for the stout, when head brewer Will Freeland served up a novel pint containing the stout’s ingredients in their original form.

Pennycomequick is 4.5% ABV and is described as a traditional stout with a smooth dark body and creamy head, with lots of new world hops for aroma and flavour.

Skinners will be hard-pressed to match their 2005 performance at the beer festival when they swept the board in spectacular style. They beat off all-comers, including some of the national giants, to win three of the top categories and end up supreme champion.