8 Sail Brewery
Microbrewery
in
Heckington,
Lincolnshire,
England 🏴
Associated Venue: 8 Sail Brewery Tap And Shop
Established in 2010
Contact
Heckington Windmill, 4 Hale Road, Heckington, NG34 9JW, England
Subsidiaries
Description
The unique eight-sailed windmill at Heckington near Sleaford in Lincolnshire is the sole survivor of only seven of the type ever built in Britain. Heckington’s eight-sailed windmill owes its survival to John Pocklington (1865-1941) who combined the machinery from Skirbeck with the tower at Heckington in 1892. He kept the mill in working order even when it became obsolete and was commended by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings for his restoration of 1933. Kesteven County Council (later absorbed into Lincolnshire County Council) purchased the mill in 1953 and the building has been administered by the Friends of Heckington Mill since 1982.
Tony Pygott set up the six barrel brewery in the adjacent former grainstore in June 2010 and the first brew took place on 22nd June. Having built up a distribution network, 8 Sail Brewery cask and bottled-conditioned beers can be found in Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire and further afield.
Tony Pygott set up the six barrel brewery in the adjacent former grainstore in June 2010 and the first brew took place on 22nd June. Having built up a distribution network, 8 Sail Brewery cask and bottled-conditioned beers can be found in Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire and further afield.
7.2/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 8
330ml bottle from Beers of Europe. Poured into a La Chouffe stemmed goblet at home on 23rd December 2024. Dark mahogany body, fast fading beige cap. Boozy, earthy and malty, turns a little more hop bitter mid sip. Dried fruit traces (like figs/prunes). Slight alcohol burn towards the finish.
Tried
from Bottle
on 23 Dec 2024
at 18:06
7.6/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Panda at home, thanks to Kenneth, 20/12/24. Deep mahogany brown topped with a beige cap that thins to a swirl. Nose is dates, stewed fruits, vinous, cake mix, toffee, brown sugar dusting. Taste comprises fruit cake, earthy fruits, lick of alcohol, vinous, herb, dates, prunes, toffee. Medium bodied with bite, fine carbonation, drying close with a balanced kiss of alcohol. Tidy old skool sipper and easy going for the hefty 14% ... would have guessed 8 or 9?
Tried
on 20 Dec 2024
at 18:32
6.8/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Large white foamy head on an unclear amber coloured body. Bitter, yeast & spiced aroma. Medium bodied, foamy & dry on the back. Bitter orange, yeast, biscuit & zesty citrus tastes with a tangy finish. Nice drinker.
Tried
on 15 Dec 2024
at 17:40
5.9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 5
Texture 6
Overall 5.5
Handpull cask at the Whostle Stop Micro Pub, Grantham train station. Light to mid-gold, clear with a reasonably sized off-white head. Slightly spicy aroma, grainy hop. Tastes bittersweet, a little acrid. Slightly vegetal flavour sits on the middle of the tongue. Soft carbonation. It isn't terrible but had some odd flavours. Not doing it for me sadly.
Tried
from Cask
on 14 Dec 2024
at 18:16
6.1/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 4
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 5.5
Handpull cask at the Chequers, Grantham. Light, almost golden brown, clear with a decent off-white head. Very low aroma, some light malts but not much here at all. Tastes sweet, a little corny, some ices tea. Some bitterness in the aftertaste. I mean, there isn't anything bad about it, it's just pretty dull if passable.
Tried
from Cask
on 14 Dec 2024
at 16:19
7.6/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
12th December 2024
Just a light haze on this amber beer, small and short lived bubbly pale tan head. Smooth palate, a little airy, mildly dry, reasonable fine carbonation -about right for a weighty barleywine like this. Esters very prominent from the get go, fruity esters, lesser bubblegum, both intertwining with some alcohol spice. Caramel and cream malts with some ripe fruits and dried fruits on the back end. Finishes relatively light mouthfeel wise but the alcohol does nip a little. Not sure how much this would improve with time. Definitely a bit but I don't see massive potential aging this one but I haven't guessed the right lottery numbers yet so, what do I know? Decent muscular English barleywine.
Just a light haze on this amber beer, small and short lived bubbly pale tan head. Smooth palate, a little airy, mildly dry, reasonable fine carbonation -about right for a weighty barleywine like this. Esters very prominent from the get go, fruity esters, lesser bubblegum, both intertwining with some alcohol spice. Caramel and cream malts with some ripe fruits and dried fruits on the back end. Finishes relatively light mouthfeel wise but the alcohol does nip a little. Not sure how much this would improve with time. Definitely a bit but I don't see massive potential aging this one but I haven't guessed the right lottery numbers yet so, what do I know? Decent muscular English barleywine.
Tried
on 12 Dec 2024
at 23:01
7/10
On cask at 8 Sail Heckington - jet black body with a short tan head. Real pungent roasted taste, notes of coffee, nuts and liquorice.
Tried
from Cask
on 07 Dec 2024
at 12:17
6.9/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
EB - Cask (gravity) @ 40th Pigs Ear Beer and Cider Festival 2024 - Day 1 at 🇬🇧 The Round Chapel in Hackney, London, England. [ As 8 Sail Black Widow ]. ABV:5.5%. [20241203]. 7-3-7-3-15
Tried
from Cask
on 07 Dec 2024
at 12:08
4.5/10
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Appearance 4
Aroma 4
Flavor 5
Texture 4
Overall 5
Cask, half pint. @Tollemache Inn, Grantham (England). 13/10/2024 [#7.982 Global - #1.035 England - #1 8 Sail Brewery (My English brewery #327)] Pours amber with a minimal white head. Aroma: toffee, dried fruits and sulphur. Taste: orange zest, sulphur and spices. Honey palate. Next one, please!
Tried
from Cask
on 05 Dec 2024
at 13:04
6/10
Tried
on 04 Dec 2024
at 17:11