BLO Report for High House Farm Brewery
12th January 2009


Beers

Current : Auld Hemp, Nel’s Best, Matfen Magic, Ferocious Fred (Winter)

Planned : Lily Brewster will be available from next week, and the Spring beers, including Nettle Beer are under consideration.


Capacity

Brewery is a 10-barrel plant. Currently brewing twice a week, but before Christmas the brewery was brewing up to 4 times a week.

Outlets

A brewery min-fest is still probable in the Free Trade Inn. The contract to supply the Hotel du Vin in Newcastle is going very well – HHF is the only real ale available.

Distribution

Currently on Sir John Fitzgerald, Flying Firkin, Beer Seller, and Wetherspoons lists.

Other

Two brews of Cyril the Magnificent were done before Christmas and were both sold even before they were brewed. A further brew of Farmers Pride has been done and was well received.

Steve Urwin is still heavily involved with Business Link. Michael Harker is still head brewer, and Sally Urwin is still managing the brewery. The Visitor Centre has only been open at weekends over Winter, and the brewery are now actively looking at recruiting a tenant for the Visitor Centre and running it as a separate concern, so if any branch member fancies their chances……

The brewery had a fantastic December as far as sales were concerned, selling over 7,000 pints more than any other month, and sales so far this year are exceeding what they thought the current economic situation would produce. The brewery is currently putting together plans to offer customers training in how real ale is produced, and the skills involved in looking after it.

Overall, High House Farm is very optimistic about the future.