It began with a meeting between an Italian and a Scot one Sunday in Oxford Circus. Between them passed 5kg of a much loved and sought after substance. Vacuum packed in shiny foil being discreet wasn't easy: wasn't even an option as the magpies looked on. It was carried quickly and excitedly back to Walworth back to the brewery and placed in a secure lock-up ready for use at the next possible opportunity. The very next February day the opportunity arose! A visitor arrived at the brewery from Argyll via Barcelona Beer Festival. The silver package was removed from its place of safety under cover of early morning clouds and a large quantity was weighed out into bags filling the air with its pungent tropical aroma. As hot water and grain were carefully mixed and the resulting wort was then transferred to the kettle the workers enjoyed a well-deserved morning beverage. Andrea Ladas from Fyne Ales sat and supped some Köln style beer direct from the wooden cask with his Orbit hosts before they partook in what is sure to become a future Orbit tradition: a February afternoon BBQ. Chicken hearts and Turkish peppers were flash grilled as human hearts warmed in the surprising sunshine. Before long the kettle reached the boil and bittering hops were added before a short while later the contents of the shady package were unleashed into the boiling wort. Here it was the beginnings of the Orbit Beers/Fyne Ales Citra Kellerbier! And now for something completely different a few words from our head brewer: Kellerbier is without a doubt my favourite beer style. I've enjoyed many of them around Franconia served in the traditional ceramic Krug especially enjoyable in the summer sitting in one of the beautiful beer gardens that are very common around this region of Germany. Keller is style that like bitter encompasses many varieties. It can be very pale or darker like the Altfränkische (Old Franconian) examples extremely hoppy and bitter like Knoblach or Roppelt maltier like Griess or Gradl but always full of character. Our version is closer to the western Franconian examples in its lighter colour with only a bit of Munich added for a touch of that rustic toasty character. We then added a generous amount of Citra (thanks to our friends at Fyne for that!) for a modern twist. We're incredibly happy with the result the hop character is most definitely there but it's not overpowering the body is just right light enough for great drinkability… We are trying very hard not to drink it all.