March 2008.
A rather belated Happy New Year to all.
Our last Newsletter was sent out in November 2007, and was about our annual Beer Walk. I'd just like to report, for those who weren't there, that the weather was not kind; the morning started with heavy rain and strong winds, but we were really delighted that around 250 people were not deterred. It cleared up at about 11.30, so most of the walks were done in dryish conditions - though muddy!
Despite numbers being down (and don't think I blame anyone - I probably wouldn't have turned out on a morning like that if I hadn't had to!) sales were brisk, and we raised £430 for Harting School's PhotoVoltaic Cell project. The new beer, Thin Ice, proved popular - it has quite a citrus, marmalady flavour this year. Also popular were our Christmas Puddings, hand made by a local friend. We'll be having more made this year, and hopefully they'll be available from some time in September.
Poor Harvest
As you probably realise, many of the main hop growing areas in Herefordshire and Worcestershire were under water during the growing season last year, and there was a poor harvest. You may not know that there was a poor hop harvest in most of the main hop growing areas in Eastern Europe and the Untied States as well. So, hop prices have more than doubled and some varieties are not available at all.
The weather also affected grain harvests globally, in some places thee was too much rain, and in some places there was drought. So there is a global shortage of grain including barley, and our malt prices have risen by a third. Farmers' switching to grow bio fuels has not helped this situation.
As a result of these problems we were reluctantly forced to raise our prices at the beginning of December.
On to 2008. Fran took advantage of the post-Christmas lull to go on holiday to Thailand for two weeks in January, and returned with many photos and tales of life in a small completely non-tourist village, and a good, but now faded tan. He was glad to get back to proper beer!
Going Green
Brewers grains, which have for centuries been used as animal feed, were to have been reclassified as a waste product under EU legislation. This was avoided thanks to strong lobbying in Brussells, and they are now classified as a "moist co-product". However, if they are to go into the food chain by being fed to sheep or cattle their storage and transport is now regulated as if they were human food, and breweries are forced to spend thousands on accreditation. As our production of brewers grains is so relatively small, we have decided instead to give them to a local farmer who uses them as compost for his organic crops. Another alternative is to use them as feed for horses, as they are not in the food chain.
We are supporting Rother Valley Organics, a local farm co-operative, who in turn, use our beer in their excellent Beef and Ale Pies. Their shop is 100 yards from the brewery - why not combine shopping for beer with shopping for pies and meat?
We now have a cardboard and paper re-cycling bin on site, and as we have no means of washing our bottles effectively for re-use, we recycle all glass which is returned to us. A great deal of research is being done to develop "right-weight" glass so that we hope soon to be using thinner but stronger bottles in order to reduce the energy and materials used to produce them, the energy used to transport them, and the amount of waste glass which is produced in the long run. Please do not return bottles to us, but recycle them in your local bins.
If you buy Polypins from us, do remember that they are re-usable - just rinse them out when you've finished the beer, and try to remember to bring them to be refilled when you want more.
We would like to stop using plastic bags, and we're researching paper carriers - of course we need to find bags that are strong enough to carry half a dozen bottles safely. Ideally everyone would carry their own bag at all times - but how often does one leave the "bag for life" in the car or hanging on the kitchen door knob!
Refurbishment
During February we repainted the walls of the brewing area with white mould repellent paint. Our next project is to renew the floor, currently made of epoxy resin which has not worn well, and is cracked, and patched with concrete. On the Tuesday after Easter the contractors move in to dig out this old surface, and relay a new one finished with a polyurethane screed. We will not be able to brew for three weeks as all the brewing equipment and fermenting vessels will be taken out - we hope the plumbing will all fit back together afterwards!
Fran has been stocking up with beer, and we expect to be able to fulfil all normal orders during this period, though the "shop" area may be even more chaotic than usual. Please don't hesitate to call round if you need any beer, draught or bottled, and check out the progress of the works. We plan to resume brewing on April 8th, in pristine surroundings, and with new yeast.
The Budget came as a shock and a disappointment as the Chancellor seems to have gone against all reason in raising Beer Duty by an unprecedented amount.
We have to raise our prices again, which doesn't help the pubs, up against it on all sides, what with the smoking ban, binge drinking, and exaggerated concern over health issues. Did you ever see anyone getting aggressive on Real Ale? Thanks to seeded hops you fall asleep long before getting punchy! Seriously, we see Real Ale as a healthy form of alcohol, with beneficial anti oxidant qualities, and plenty of vitamins. We hope eventually to convince the Government to see Real Ale not as part of the problem, but as part of the solution to healthy drinking and vibrant pubs.
With best wishes to all for 2008.
Carola, Fran & Keith.
