Brew By Numbers: further to the report in the last edition, Brew By Numbers have, after all, been bought out of administration by the Breal Group, which describes itself as a ‘multi-disciplinary equity, lending and advisory services group’. BBN was founded in 2011 and was originally located on the Bermondsey Beer Mile until they moved to larger and more modern premises at Morden Wharf in Greenwich. This site included a large taproom and outdoor space. Both the brewery and taproom continue trading.
Canopy Beer Company: Canopy’s site in Herne Hill has been taken over by the Birdhouse Brewery from Downham Market in Norfolk. The purchase included the brewing kit and Birdhouse intend to reopen the site in due course.
Gorgeous Brewery: this brewery, originally set up in 2016 at the Bull pub in Highgate, has now been acquired by the Church Farm Brewery in Budbrooke, Warwickshire. Church Farm have been brewing Gorgeous’s beers since March 2022 when the Bull was acquired by Greene King (Metropolitan Pub Co) and the brewing kit removed. Gorgeous beers will continue to be brewed.
Gritchie Brewing Company: not a London brewery (they are based near Shaftesbury in Dorset) but this company is looking to expand its trade in the London area. It was set up in 2017 and is owned by the film director Guy Ritchie. They have a brew length of 20 barrels, using home grown Maris Otter barley and draw water from their own springs. The brewery prides itself on its high level of sustainability. They already have a brewery tap in London, the Lore of the Land in Fitzrovia which they reopened in 2019. Three cask beers are brewed: Lore Session IPA (4.3% ABV), English Lore Pale Ale (4% ABV) and Lore New World Pale Ale (3.7% ABV). All three are also available in 500ml bottles. They also brew a lager.
Gipsy Hill Brewing Co: Gipsy Hill’s Hepcat IPA (4.6% ABV) , which has not been brewed in cask form for five years, was revived in partnership with the Nicholson’s Pub Collection (M&B) as part of the Cask Ale Week celebrations. This limited edition brew should have been available at 80 Nicholson’s sites nationwide from 21 September to 1 October.
Ram Brewery: the Laine Pub Company have relocated the brewing kit from the People’s Park Tavern in Homerton to the Grade II-listed Ram Inn in Wandsworth. Brewing has been carried out by Coalition Brewery, independently of the pub management. The freehold is owned by Punch Partnerships (acquired from Young’s) and earlier this year it was put up for sale at £2 million. It was still on the agent’s list as at 12 September.
Spartan Brewery: I can now confirm that Battersea Brewery (part of the Mosaic Pubs Group) has completed the purchase of the Spartan Brewery premises in Almond Road, Bermondsey. This site is now open as ‘Battersea Brewery Substation’ and its acquisition has more than doubled Battersea’s brewing capacity. A greater range of beers, both keg and cask, will now be available at both Almond Road and Battersea’s existing brewpub next to Battersea Power Station.
Wimbledon Brewery: in August, Wimbledon took part in a competition organised by the USA Brewers Association in which six beers each from the UK and USA were brewed to celebrate ‘How American Craft Beer Changed the World’. Wimbledon collaborated with the DESTIHL Brewery from Normal, Illinois, to brew a classic West Coast APA. It followed English brewing tradition by using Maris Otter malt and the hops used were Centennial, Chinook, Cascade and Citra. The brew was fermented with California Ale 1 yeast.