Beer notes from Brussels (etc.), Paris, Oslo, London

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& a pleasure it was too, sounds a cracking trip, & re-inspired me to go back to Belgium as soon as practical :~)

odd confusing & sad situation with Brakspear's - the beautiful, ancient Henley brewery is closed (not sure what it's to become) the co. is now just a pub co., having sold the beer brands to RefreshUK (beer importer, brand-owner owner of Wychwood micro, in Witney, Oxfordshire) who have been having the standard beers (Bitter & Special) brewed by Thomas Hardy/Burtonwood up nr Warrington (Cheshire, NW England) - plans are afoot to expand the Wychwood Brewery to incorporate much of the old Braks brewplant (dropping vessels, etc) to brew all of the Braks beers there. more info at

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IMO Refresh aren't the real rogues here, it's the cynical selling off of the 230-year-old family silver by the folks behind Brakspear itself that rankles - Refresh have just bought a brand they think is worth rescuing. cheers MikeMcG (a former brakspear brewer) PS talking of ThomHardy/Burtonwood - to very little fanfare or upset, the original EldridgePope/Thomas Hardy Brewery in Dorchester recently closed, after the owners of the site refused to renew the lease. (O'Hanlon's micro in Devon are set to brew some of the old EP brands for US sale - incl. the famous ThomHardy Ale)

Reply to
MikeMcG

Thanks for the info. This is indeed sad.

I have to say that they (well, you, formerly) brewed some great beers. I would really look forward to them on every visit to the UK, and not finding them this time was a real downer.

If the survive under a new brewer, somehow they won't be the same. Probably they will be more "commercial," but even if they taste the same, knowing they are not from the old Henley brewery will always make drinking one a less happy experience than it used to be.

Reply to
Matthew Shugart

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