Brewhouse and Kitchen launches customisable craft beer can chicken

Pub chain Brewhouse & Kitchen has announced a new menu including a customisable beer can chicken.

Brewhouse & Kitchen – Beer Can Chicken (Justin DeSouza)

We all have our own ways to keep roast chicken juicy. Some use pound upon pound of butter, while others use the time-honoured method of stuffing your bird with a partially-filled can of beer to let it cook slowly, and the flavours of the chosen brew sink in.

In time for summer, Brewhouse and Kitchen has redesigned its dining menu, and is taking the on-trade’s obsession with consumer experiences to new heights. The pub prides itself on its ability to match the beer it offers with its food, and the newest selection is no different.

The menu includes, as expected, a range of small plates, mains and desserts, with beer pairings included. However, the chain will reintroduce an old favourite, the ‘beer can chicken’ – now fully customisable.

The meat is coated in a dry rub and roasted over a can of Brewhouse & Kitchen American Pale Ale. The size selection is between a quarter, half or a whole chicken, while sauces available are garlic beer butter, bar-beer-que and a spicy sriracha & honey beer sauce. The pub recommends an American Pale Ale alongside, brewed on-site. There are 12 sides to choose from.

Other new dishes include moules frites cooked in wheat beer sauce and a passionfruit Eton mess with whipped cream and fruit coulis. The menu includes 21 vegan and vegetarian dishes, and a large number of beers that are brewed on site are vegan.

Founded in 2013 by Simon Bunn and Kris Gumbrell, Brewhouse & Kitchen now has 22 sites across the country, from Bristol to Bournemouth, Cardiff to Cheltenham, Highbury to Horsham, and Poole to Portsmouth.

Recently, they released a study quizzing millions of UK drinkers on their beer of choice, finding that, when drinking at a pub, 34% of the public will try more alternative styles of beer than they would have ten years ago. Londoners were most keen to try new beers, with 43% saying they would opt for an alternative style over a lager.

Simon Bunn said the craft beer market is “fast becoming an important force driving growth in the hospitality sector, bringing with it a new wave of pubs and bars.”

Their research focused on beer “styles,” i.e. lager vs ales, rather than the brands themselves. While adventurous styles have risen in popularity, there is still room for debate on what defines a “craft” beer.