Perivale Brewery Turning Invasive Plant into Beer
Japanese Knotweed ingredient will be sourced from local waterways
The brewery is based at Horsenden Farm. Picture: Perivale Brewery
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June 3, 2025
‘Knot Welcome’ is a new beer from the Perivale Brewery which aims to provide a refreshing drink while at the same time removing an invasive plant from local waterways.
The award-winning microbrewery based in Horsenden Farm will be looking to extract Japanese Knotweed from local watercourses such as the nearby canal. Head brewer Mike Siddell has been working with the Horsenden ranger to trial ways of utilising the plant, while carefully ensuring it doesn't spread further.
The resulting beer is described as a light, refreshing sour beer delivering subtle tannic apple notes. "Coming in at 4% ABV it’s perfect for supping in the sun” according to Mr Siddell.
His approach to brewing often involves using unusual ingredients found on his doorstep. “I’ve made beers with foraged ingredients like nettles, hay and elderflowers, but Japanese Knotweed is another level” he explains. “We had to be very careful to follow the local ranger’s lead. But I can confirm that no invasive species were spread in the making of this beer!”
Knot Welcome is now available on tap at Perivale Brewery, which is open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 12pm. Customers can also order beers on its website (www.perivale.beer).
One customer review commented, “Surprisingly nice. Not sure what I was expecting, but it was better!”
Perivale Brewery are not the first to use this particular weed as an ingredient and the plant has previously provided sour ale for brewers in the US and the UK. It is best harvest in the spring as young shoots are the most suitable for brewing as mature plants are too fibrous and bitter. It contains Oxalic Acid which is harmless in small doses but excessive consumption can cause kidney stones.
Perivale Brewery is just a short walk from Perivale underground station. It was founded in 2019 by musicians Mike Siddell and Christian Hardy (of The Leisure Society) with their friend Mike Petricevic of Waste Creative. The brewery is part of a collective called Friends of Horsenden Hill, who work in partnership with Ealing Council to look after the farm buildings and surrounding land. The brewery’s community-centric approach has been praised in parliament by James Murray, MP for Ealing North, following crowdfunding campaigns, charity concerts and sponsorship of local businesses and events.
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