Hello
This is us! Marc and Amy, with Daisy and Jack.
In mid 2016 on a hot and sunny day, we upped sticks from Brighton in East Sussex and moved to the middle of Devon. We packed in sensible careers to try something different.
It had been a two year search to find the right place, hidden a few miles north of the wilds of Dartmoor. Westacott Barton is a 21 acre farmstead with a Grade II* thatched medieval farmhouse and a courtyard of C17th thatched barns. We have woodland, meadows and amazing views out over the Den Brook valley towards the moor.
(If you wanted to know more about the house then this English Heritage report doesn't mess around. Or you can book a stay in Meadow Cottage, which is the Southern Wing of Westacott Barton. Check the Meadow Cottage Facebook page for latest goings on).
In mid 2016 on a hot and sunny day, we upped sticks from Brighton in East Sussex and moved to the middle of Devon. We packed in sensible careers to try something different.
It had been a two year search to find the right place, hidden a few miles north of the wilds of Dartmoor. Westacott Barton is a 21 acre farmstead with a Grade II* thatched medieval farmhouse and a courtyard of C17th thatched barns. We have woodland, meadows and amazing views out over the Den Brook valley towards the moor.
(If you wanted to know more about the house then this English Heritage report doesn't mess around. Or you can book a stay in Meadow Cottage, which is the Southern Wing of Westacott Barton. Check the Meadow Cottage Facebook page for latest goings on).
The brewery was a long-term ambition after years of home-brewing.
Many of our recipes originated in this camper van brewery. Much time was spent hatching plans for a larger scale operation whilst testing out those early beers.
Many of our recipes originated in this camper van brewery. Much time was spent hatching plans for a larger scale operation whilst testing out those early beers.
Our plan
Start a micro-brewery in the large threshing barn. It sounded easy! The barn had recently been restored and there was plenty of space for brewing down the far end plus potential for an events area in the main hall. But it had stood empty since storing potatoes 30 years back, was Grade II listed and lacking any basic infrastructure.
With support from Historic England, we received planning and listed building permissions in January 2017 and work could then commence on the floor, walls, electrics and drainage.
With support from Historic England, we received planning and listed building permissions in January 2017 and work could then commence on the floor, walls, electrics and drainage.
We also went shopping on ebay, picking up a mostly complete and well travelled set of English made brewing vessels from Simon in Bridport. Here he is rocking a coordinated jacket and beer barrel look, before waving us off on our way.
We're not completely sure about the backstory to our vessels. They were probably made back in the 1970s for Scottish & Newcastle brewery as conditioning 'grundy tanks' and converted to microbrewery spec by ABUK in the early 1990s. Simon said he had bought them off Moorview Brewery in Ilkley when it closed. Before that, we think they were Goose Eye Brewery's at Turkey Inn in Keighley. They may also have passed through the hands of a Sherborne-based brewery for a time, but we're not sure on the details.
We're not completely sure about the backstory to our vessels. They were probably made back in the 1970s for Scottish & Newcastle brewery as conditioning 'grundy tanks' and converted to microbrewery spec by ABUK in the early 1990s. Simon said he had bought them off Moorview Brewery in Ilkley when it closed. Before that, we think they were Goose Eye Brewery's at Turkey Inn in Keighley. They may also have passed through the hands of a Sherborne-based brewery for a time, but we're not sure on the details.
Funding
In February we found out that we'd been successful in our application for an EU grant to help with start up costs. We could now go out and buy a brand new generator, two jacketed fermentation tanks and some shiny steel casks, greatly improving reliability and ultimately the quality of our ale.
Many thanks to Sophie Price and the team at The DR Company for their support with the LEADER scheme, which does a grand job supporting the rural economy, encouraging innovation and promoting the Greater Dartmoor area.
Many thanks to Sophie Price and the team at The DR Company for their support with the LEADER scheme, which does a grand job supporting the rural economy, encouraging innovation and promoting the Greater Dartmoor area.
The build
It was all systems go through Spring 2017. We man-handled our tanks into place and set about digging a big hole for our reed bed. We laid drainage pipes, sorted out pumps, and connected up electrics. Then we spent more time sorting out pumps, connecting up electrics and messing around with stainless steel pipes and fittings.
We put in our order for a load of shiny new steel casks and spent evenings chasing second-hand stainless steel kitchen fittings. Then we did some more fiddling with pumps, pipes and plumbing.
We also started ploughing through all the regulatory stuff: licencing, environmental, health & safety, and HMRC.
And we ordered two brand spanking new fermenting vessels with integrated cooling jackets. We kind of pushed the boat out a bit with these, but getting good fermentation temperature is critical to making great ale.
Almost as important, we got our logos painted on the van!
We also started ploughing through all the regulatory stuff: licencing, environmental, health & safety, and HMRC.
And we ordered two brand spanking new fermenting vessels with integrated cooling jackets. We kind of pushed the boat out a bit with these, but getting good fermentation temperature is critical to making great ale.
Almost as important, we got our logos painted on the van!
Starting off
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We did our first brews in June & July 2017 and after a somewhat hazy period of intensive product development we began supplying local pubs in September. Demand was high and by the end of the year our ale had been served up in sixteen local freehouses, including a great double whammy by repeatedly getting our ale on the guest taps of Pub of the Year 2017 for CAMRA's 'North Devon' and 'Exeter and East Devon' branches within those first three months of starting out.
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Moving forward
Our first batches of bottle conditioned ales were released in late 2018. It took a while designing bottle labels, packaging and perfecting carbonation levels... but stock of our ale in 500ml bottles is now starting to reach the thirsty drinkers of mid-Devon. We may even offer a selection to buy through the website, but for now you can purchase via these fine establishments. The aim is to be in a small selection of local farm shops and specialist high street stores.
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In the near future, we'd like to establish a regular monthly Saturday afternoon get-together where you can sample our latest creations in our new brewery tap-room.
We've begun clearing out the kids' toys and tidying up the barn floor, with a view to getting things moving forward. Its a pretty spectacular space and very atmospheric under the open thatch. Our cask ale continues to hit the spot with local drinkers! We were very chuffed to make the final shortlist for North Devon Camra's 'Brewery of the Year' 2019 in only our second year of existence. Rock-and-roll! |
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We want to continue getting more of our ale out into our local pubs. If you are a pub (or know of a pub) local to us that should be stocking our ale then please do get in touch.
Our Facebook page outlines all the latest goings on. Or we'd be happy to tell you the full story when you visit. Contact us.
Our Facebook page outlines all the latest goings on. Or we'd be happy to tell you the full story when you visit. Contact us.