Minibus Trip

Tuesday 21st June

What better way to finish off the longest day of the year than with a brewery visit? This time Robin had chosen to take us to the fledgling brewery Merry Miner, started at the end of 2010 by Alan Wood, himself an ex-miner at Daw Mill. The brewery is situated near to Warton in some farm barns.

The equipment is from the former Discovery brewery of Meriden – Simon Cox, the brewer there, a full-time lecturer, decided that part-time brewing and raising a young family just didn't go together. The first Merry Miner brew was Davy's Lamp (4.0%), and was amongst the first to sell out at Birmingham Beer Festival. Alan's range has already extended to about 10 different ales from Warwickshire's Finest (3.8%) a light amber session beer with a full flavour, to Miner's Fancy (6.2%) a pale premium ale. Some of Alan's beers can usually be found at the Red Lion, Baddesley, and the Horse & Jockey at Bentley.

After an intersting & entertaining history of the brewery followed by a description of his brewing process we all adjourned to the Red Lion at Baddesley where Alan had organised 3 of his beers for us to try & also generously provided sandwiches for all. Everyone agreed the beers were excellent with Warwickshire's Finest & Going Underground proving popular.

Alan is clearly on the right track with his brewery and no doubt his brews will appear at our future beer festivals. We wish him well for the future and thank him for his hospitality.

Arriving	Alan	Alan's mementos

Words by Alan
Photos by Chris & Alan