| News |
The West Berkshire Brewery names its Beer of the Month for September after the Kennet and Avon Canal in Hungerford
|
 |
| |
| |
| The Kennet and Avon canal in Hungerford has been chosen to feature as The West Berkshire Brewery’s (WBB) August “Beer of the Month”, to be called “K&A Bitter”. |
| |
| The bitter is a tribute to the canal which runs through the full length of West Berkshire and into Reading where it joins the Thames. David Maggs, owner of WBB, said “We brew a special beer each month offering our regular customers some variety. Each year our brewers decide on a theme for the ales and for 2010 the names are of local places and landmarks of historical interest.” |
| |
| David continued, “We chose the canal as it is a significant part of the county’s history as well as an area of outstanding natural beauty for all to enjoy.” |
| |
| The canal was opened in 1810 connecting the Avon Navigation from Bristol to Bath and the Thames Navigation from Reading to Newbury. Its heyday was short-lived and the advent of the railway hastened its demise. |
|
| |
| By the late 1940s the Kennet and Avon canal was in a sorry state. A campaign was started in the 1950s forming the Kennet and Avon Canal Association Trust. Their hard work led to its re-opening in 1990 and it is now a huge source of leisure for boaters, walkers and fishermen alike. |
| |
| “K&A Bitter” is a deep gold-coloured beer to represent a golden age. Brewed with Maris Otter barley, Cara, brown and wheat malts it is blended with fruit flavours from English dwarf hops. |
| |
| |
| The beer will feature in pubs across Berkshire from the beginning of August and will be easily identified at the bar by its distinctive pumpclip, designed and painted by Helen Maggs - David’s wife and business partner. |
| |
| Helen said “Designing the K&A Bitter artwork presented an opportunity for me to capture some of the glory of our forgotten waterways. So I decided to re-create a scene familiar to the people of Hungerford, as the picture shows a idyllic setting with a man and child standing on the bridge looking out across the water where they can see two bright red canal boats, a row of picturesque houses and a sea of rich green trees in the distance.” |
| |
| To find out more about the brewery’s “Beer of the Month” visit their website at: www.wbbrew.com. September’s “Beer of the Month” toasts The Berkshire Downs and focuses on the stretch from Streatley where they give way to the Thames and the Goring Gap to White Horse Hill and Uffington - now in Oxfordshire. |
|
 |
|
| |
|
| |
| West Berkshire Brewery's Beers of the Month 2010 still to come ... |
| September – Downlands bitter |
| October – Aucherius |
| November – Donnington Castle |
| December – King Alfred’s Draught |
| ____________________________________________________________________________________ |
The West Berkshire Brewery is set to become the largest brewery in the county as planning permission is granted
|
| The West Berkshire Brewery at Yattendon in Berkshire announced today that it has received planning permission from West Berkshire Council for the development of a new 50 barrel brewery at Home Farm in Frilsham. |
| |
| The new site will enable the brewery to double its production, creating various new jobs and supporting the local economy. Dave Maggs, owner, said, "We are delighted with the news and are really looking forward to the development of the facility." |
| |
| Dave continued "The larger brewery will give the company the scope it needs to grow gradually, making the everyday brewing process easier as we will be able to brew more beer in less time. It will also give us more room to operate; improve vehicle access and create some badly needed office and storage space." |
| |
| The announcement comes just as the brewery prepares to celebrate its 15th anniversary, in August, and as Berkshire Brewery (Scottish Courage) closes - making The West Berkshire Brewery the largest brew house in the county. |
| |
|
|
 |
|
| The new brewery will take two to three years to complete, but it is hoped that ground work will start this summer with the re-development of the Flour Barn at Home Farm, which is part of Yattendon Estates. |
| |
| Keen to ensure that the site is environmentally friendly, Dave and his team are working with various organizations to determine the best way to manage the site's drainage system. |
| |
| Dave said, "We believe that the use of a reed bed and the installation of a small Klargester treatment plant - subject to approval by the Environment Agency - would enhance the disposal of our waste products. This would also complement the way in which we currently recycle our other waste, such as; malted barley grains and excess yeast which goes to a local farmer for pig feed and the spent hops which are used as fertilizer for compositing." |
| |
| In addition to the obvious improvements for the business, it is hoped that the local community will also benefit as the brewery intends to recruit individuals from the surrounding area to support its growth." |
| |
| Please note: The brewery's shop in Yattendon will remain to open to the public throughout the planned developments. Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm and on Saturdays from 10am to 1pm. |
| The West Berkshire Brewery was established by Dave and Helen Maggs in 1995, at the back of the Potkiln pub in Frilsham. A 15 barrel brewery was added in 1999 in Yattendon, which was then replaced in 2006 with a new 20 barrel brewery. |
| |
| The Brewery is renowned for its awards winning ales, having received more than 25 accreditations in its 15 year existence; the most recent being a Bronze overall in the 2009 Champion Beer of Britain and a Gold in the Strong Bitter category the same year. |
| |
