MANY gastronomes may not be familiar with the combination of beer and honey but the unlikely partners are proving to be a big hit at the National Trust run Croome park near Pershore.

A family-run micro brewery in Worcester has joined forces with the park’s chef to produce some delicious creations using local ingredients.

Croome chef Keith Turrell has been working with Pope’s Brewing Company at Blackpole in Worcester, and local bee-keeper Keren Green to come up with a special honey and beer cake.

Pope's Brewing Company is run by family members Wendy, Graham and Alex Pope who started out as keen home brewers. Their first beers, Worcester Gold and Hop Market, proved popular and they now boast a range of five core real ales alongside monthly and seasonal specials.

Graham said: “We took the plunge and started our brewing company in 2012 after seeing a gap in the market for a local brewery in the Worcester area.

“It’s great to see that the National Trust is so positive about supporting us and other local businesses and it’s brilliant news that our beer is being used in one of their delicious cake recipes.”

Croome’s chef Keith said: “It was great to work with such an enthusiastic company with fresh new ideas. We spent a day here in Croome’s kitchens, putting our heads together and trying out different variations of recipes.

“We’ve created several new recipes and Croome’s Honey and Beer Cake was the first taste tested by our visitors and was really successful. We’ve had some great feedback. Next is a recipe using dark ale.”

The recipe also uses honey produced from the bee hives which are kept at Croome and looked after by local beekeeper Keren Green. Keren manages 80 beehives spread over the three counties of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

“I spend nearly every day in the spring and summer with my trusty green Land Rover managing my four million strong workforce by making sure they are healthy and active and producing lots of delicious honey,” said Keren.

“Both the honey and beeswax are harvested twice a year in May and July having been produced locally, harvested locally and sold locally.”

Thirteen hives are based in the grounds at Croome and this delicious honey is available to buy in Croome’s shop together with beeswax produces like hand cream and lip balm.

Croome’s Honey and Beer Cake is available for visitors to enjoy in their 1940s style canteen with a selection of their beers and honey based products for visitors to buy.

But those who enjoy baking at home can make their own Croome’s Honey and Beer Cake by following this recipe.

You will need: Two nine inch round cake tins which make 12 portions

Ingredients

100g butter

100g soft brown sugar

200g caster sugar

3 eggs

100g Croome honey

½ lemon, juice and zest

250ml Hive honey beer from Pope Brewing Company

470g self-rising flour

1.5g ground mixed spice

1.5g ground nutmeg

For the butter icing:

100g butter

200g icing sugar

15ml honey beer

Method

Cream fat and sugar until fluffy. Beat in eggs and then honey. Fold in everything else until just mixed together. Transfer to cake tins and bake in a pre-heated over for 25mins at 160-170c. For the icing, mix butter and sugar until combined, stir in beer. Sandwich cooled cakes with butter icing and finish with a dusting of icing sugar.

• Pope’s Brewery is open every Friday night for members of the public to pop in for a beer and learn more about how the beer is made at its premises at Blackpole in Worcester.