A Pint of Cheshire Happiness
19th October 2011
Categories: News
Over 20 years ago Roger Langford used to farm pigs at Willington in Cheshire and he drank in the Boot Inn at Willington, quite often with Greenall Whitley Brewer Adrian Slater.
Stephen Wundke writes
With the closure of Greenall’s brewing operation and the difficult task faced by farmers both Adrian and Roger were scratching their heads over a pint thinking about the future and like the light bulb that appears in cartoons, they both looked at their pint in front of them and realised the answer was in the glass – they would become brewers of fine ale.
In February 1993 they pulled the first pint of Weetwood Ale from their converted barns at Weetwood Grange, Willington and some 18 years later the brewery are sending out almost 20,000 pints a week to pubs across the North West of England. In fact such is the success of the former “micro” brewery that they will shortly move to larger, purpose built premises, just up the road to accommodate the level of demand they are experiencing.
Roger Langford believes that their success is simply down to hard work and an understanding of the market place that has made their beer so popular. “Since day one we have attempted to create a flavour that is distinctly ‘Cheshire’, with a consistency that allows the consumer to be able to say – that’s a pint of Weetwood. We started with just our Best Bitter and we now produce seven different ales, all made in our brewery and all to our original recipes.”
Those Ales have won no fewer than eight separate awards. In an industry that is constantly assessing and re-inventing itself Weetwood remain consistently at a very high standard of brewing. Roger explained that one of the most pleasing aspects is that the original Best Bitter has only recently been overtaken as their number one seller in the range and that was by the two year old new kid on the block, their Cheshire Cat Blonde Ale. Neither he nor Adrian minds, as Blonde Ale has become increasingly popular across the UK and theirs is one of the best.
The partnership works well for both as Adrian brings his former brewing skills to the table and Roger the business acumen to make the business work. Adrian is delighted that his original recipe has endured in a business where the palate is constantly searching for new flavours. “I think it is testimony to how right we got it on day one that we haven’t needed to change the flavour or ingredients in all that time. Yes we have added in new products but that is just to please the demand created by the public who are now really searching for flavour in their drinks and we are delighted that cask ale, made by master micro brewers appears to be on the crest of a wave.”
Long may it continue – tasting the different ales and having the differences pointed out by the men who make the beer was a tough job – but somebody has to do it! I’m just glad it was me.
For more information about Weetwood Ales and where you can find their quality products go to: www.weetwoodales.co.uk
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