Bridgnorth rugby players launch brewery
Three Bridgnorth rugby stalwarts are hoping drinkers will consider their beers thoroughly scrum-ptious as they prepare to launch their own brewery.
Severn Valley Ales, based in Faraday Drive, has just completed its first production run of three new beers, and brewers can't wait for people to taste them when they officially open for business in a few weeks time.
The brewery is the passion project of friends Chris Dayus, Daz Riley and Steve Farrell, who are all well-known figures within Bridgnorth RFC.
Chris, who is safeguarding officer at the club, said: "We've known each other for quite some time through Bridgnorth rugby. They (Daz and Steve) were both first team captains and played together. We're good pals, we go skiiing together and our kids are friends.
"Opening a brewery is something I've wanted to do for many years. I've been brewing home-brew beers for 30 years now. There are a lot of rubbish ones out there, but it doesn't actually take a lot to make a good beer. Bridgnorth needs some good beer!"
There will be three beers in the core range. They are SVA - a blonde light ale which Chris described as "fruity" and characterful, a "hoppy" IPA called Old Mo - named after the ghost of an old monk which, legend has it, haunts Bridgnorth, and Cartway Gold, which is more amber in colour and Chris expects to be popular with older drinkers and people who enjoy bitter.
He said: "Everybody is very excited that a new brewery is coming. It's a 15-minute walk from the town centre and it's a lovely walk. So people can come up to us, enjoy a few beers and then head back into town later on.
"There is a massive market for real ale at the moment. The younger ones want the hoppy ales with a bit of character, and the gold's are still popular with older drinkers."
The trio are aiming to officially open on April 5, and plan on having "tap days" on a couple of Friday and Saturday evenings each month, to give drinkers a chance to try their creations and learn more about the process.
So far they have several pubs interested in their wares, with Bridgnorth Rugby Club and The George and Drayton Inn in Much Wenlock confirmed to be taking some of the first batch.
