Tate Eats and Tate Curators have teamed up with artist Emeka Ogboh and South London’s Drop Project Brewing to create a new beer ‘Untitled 1’ for Autumn ‘23. To celebrate, the beer will launch a new series of Tate Eats’ Tap Takeovers on 28th September, in Corner at Tate Modern.
The project continues Emeka’s long-standing relationship with Tate, his work was first shown at Tate in 2017 and this is his first museum collaboration.
Emeka Ogboh, artist explains: “Art, for me, is a multi-sensory experience, and I have been exploring the gustatory realm in my art practice, often using craft beer as my ‘art for the palate’.
Drawing inspiration from London’s Tate Modern and extracting its essence through key descriptions , ‘Untitled 1’ captures the gallery’s historical and contemporary narratives. The beer embodies the fusion of art and data analysis, transforming unique characteristics of the Tate Modern into a brew. Its design echoes the raw aesthetic of the Tate Tanks, featuring a matte finish on the can, which provides a tactile connection for the project. ‘Untitled 1’ is where art, history, and taste fuses, I believe this sensory journey will be an enjoyable experience for all who try it.”
Andrew Downs, Commercial Director of Tate Eats and visionary behind Tate’s longstanding collaborative brewing programme says: “For nearly two decades, we’ve been crafting exceptional beer through collaborative brewing initiatives. Beer has always been a fabulous medium for celebrating artists and our exhibitions. This time, we’ve had the privilege of joining forces with Emeka to craft a recipe that pays homage to Tate Modern, embracing its distinct architectural presence, history and geography. It’s a tribute to art in its consumable form, if there ever was a moment to savour art with every sip, this is it!”
Beatriz Cifuentes Feliciano, Assistant Curator, International Art at Tate Modern speaks of the curatorial aspect of the project: “After a number of years of immersing himself in the beer-making process, this is the first instance in which artist Emeka Ogboh has collaborated with a museum in the creation of a craft beer. Untitled 1 represents an experiential art piece and its brewing process tells a story. Meticulously chosen ingredients emerged after a period of research, resulting in a distinct artwork designed for consumption in the form of a Tate Modern beer.”
Emeka, Beatriz, Andrew and the Drop Project team collaborated on the flavour profile of ‘Untitled 1’.
The Beer: ‘Untitled 1’ AVB: 4.0%
The spiced saison is a modern incarnation of a classic Belgian style. “Opting for a pilsner base malt and a small addition of wheat for head retention and foam stability we’ve built a classic saison baseline as our foundation” explains John Taylor from Drop Project.
The flavour of fresh cracked black pepper is combined with the herbaceous floral and citrus notes of the Czech hop Saaz. Cane sugar maintains the beer’s crisp and clean character, whilst honey adds depth to the colour and acts as the underlying flavour. Both sugars have been used to represent the history and modern Tate gallery story. The use of cane sugar represents Tate’s past and recognition of its history and the honey represents the natural, urban environment and modern eco system that defines the Tate to this day.
Lemongrass provides an element of mild ginger and fresh, zingy notes.
Drop Project Brewing is a South London-based brewery that’s worked with Tate Eats on numerous adventures in beer. Firstly, creating the delicious “Haze” and Kusama-inspired NEIPA, then “All of Us” Pale Ale, a three-way collaboration with Tate + Queer Brewing. Drop Project was co-founded by three adventure enthusiasts passionate about beer, its craft, engineering, and taste. They use modern technology to create fresh and intriguing flavours, while maintaining a consistent premium quality, which makes working with them an inspiring venture.
The beer will launch at the Tap Takeover and be available at Tate Modern all Autumn.
Tap Takeover, including a DJ set with Emeka Ogboh.
Date: 28 September 2023
Time: 18.00-23:00
Pricing: £11.50 – Three Thirds of beer / £22 – Six Thirds of beer / £25 – Seven Thirds of beer
