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Ale and hearty

RIDING the wave of the craft beer explosion, but with the backing of many years’ experience in the brewing industry, has meant early success for Towcester Mill Brewery.

Founded just three years ago, the brewery has been awarded the Northants Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) Pub of the Year for 2016. This follows success the year before when it the Cider Pub of the Year.

John Evans, who founded the company with fellow directors Ray Hunt and David Williams, believes the success of the company is down to not only a palate for what tastes good, but also an in-depth knowledge of the beer sector.

“My background is in the brewing industry, as is Ray’s and that is important,” said John. “There has been a surge in the number of smaller breweries and craft beers in recent years, because people want something a bit different from the big name brands or supermarket beers, but if you just decide to start brewing beer without the knowledge of the industry, you’re going to struggle.

“We were in the process of setting up our own brewery when we found out that there were moves to bring a brewery back to Towcester as part of the regeneration programme. The last one closed in the 1920s, so it was long overdue. We applied and ended up being given the chance to bring brewing back to the town and we’ve gone on from there.”

Housed in a mill that was once used to grind corn into flour and to mix animal feed, the brewery and tap room offer a traditional setting in which to enjoy a pint, with no juke boxes, televisions or food menus. For those who want to enjoy their Towcester Mill beers at home, there’s a retail shop in Bell Plantation just up the road from the brewery.

The selection includes Mill Race blond ale, Bell Ringer golden ale and Black Fire India Black Ale. Visit the Towcester Mill Brewery website – www.towcestermillbrewery.co.uk where there are details of all the beers, along with online ordering and details of brewery tours and events and how to become a member and help the brewery grow.

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