Cheers for success as Bridgnorth couple's brewery expands
With real ale enjoying a continued renaissance, a husband and wife duo from Bridgnorth have seen their brewery escalate so much they have been forced to move into bigger premises.
Bob and Sam Hayes, who run The White Lion Inn, launched the Hop & Stagger Brewery from the pub three years ago.
Punters have been enjoying the new ales so much a new brewery has been opened in farm buildings on the Apley Estate, near Shifnal, to cater for demand.
It is currently brewing a range of four beers including Golden Wander, Sovereign, Simpsons Original and Triple Hop IPA.
"We brew once a week, which will rise to twice a week in the near future," said Bob.
"Demand in our pub is going up all the time and we're also seeing lots of interest from other pubs but we didn't have the room to store the beer. We are now brewing 24 nine-gallon barrels in one go, so that's about 48 gallons a week.
"A standard firkin has nine gallons of beer and there are 41 litres in each nine gallons, so each time we brew that's 984 litres, which is about one tonne of beer. Over the last month or so we have been slowly building up our stock."
Hop & Stagger moved into its premise in June but it took another month before all specially made equipment was in place.
Part of the funding for the £50,000 project came through the European Regional Development Fund but the couple are still spending money on the new venue.
"We were supposed to be moving in March but there were problems with the windows and doors," said Bob.
"So far we have sold regularly to The Pheasant at Neeton and The Whippet Inn in Lichfield. We also sold three beers at beer festivals in Shrewsbury and Wolverley, and two in Nottingham."
Bottling is another brand new venture for Bob and Sam, who have decided to delve into the market for the first time.
"Tanners Wine Merchants in Bridgnorth has had 40 crates from us and will be mixing one of our beers, First Gold, as part of its 12 bottle Taste of Shropshire range.
"Places in Shrewsbury, Ironbridge and Bewdley have all asked for our bottled beers and we also now have some rebranded Apley Ales," said Sam.
Bob added: "The plan is to bring in another fermenting vessel so we have the option of brewing three times a week. Hopefully within three years we will have the capacity to brew 72 nine-gallon barrels.
"This is the first proper step of developing the brewery and the plan is to eventually double in size again.
"We hope to get an apprentice in over the next few months and maybe one day it will be handed down to my kids because I'll be 59 in three years. We're also looking to buy another pub in the next few months."
Bob, who worked as a graphic designer before taking a leap of faith and opening his own pub, said: "
Now our beers are going to be on pumps or on shelves next to other local brews we will be standing on our own, so it's important to have a good brand.
"We want to get to the point where we're supplying two or three pubs on a regular basis."
