Last updated at 16:03, Monday, 17 August 2009

BREW’S UP: Anita Garnett of The Ulverston Brewing Company MILTON HAWORTH REF: 0426748

ON certain days of the week the heady aroma of the newest brew filled the air in towns up and down the country.

The anticipation of sharing a pint with friends after a hard day at work grew stronger as the smell of the beer filled your nostrils.

And after that first sip hit your lips it left you with a great feeling of satisfaction.

Today, many such breweries are a thing of the past but there has been a battle from dedicated people to nurture a new group which appreciate the flavour and texture of a good pint.

In recent years microbreweries have sprung up throughout the country with Cumbria being no exception where there are estimated to be at least 20.

One such brewery is the Ulverston Brewing Company, based in Lindal, which has been going for three years and is run by Anita Garnett and her partner Paul Swann.

During that time they have come up with some champion tipples and are looking at the possibility of bringing their Celebration Ale, brewed for the unveiling of the Stan Laurel statue in County Square, to the Ulverston Beer Festival, which takes place from September 3 to 5 in the Coronation Hall.

Anita ran her own hairdressing firm for 25 years before turning her hand to being head brewer at a venue which once housed winding gear for the iron ore mine in the Lindal. The brewery produces 36 barrels a week, each of which holds 72 pints, and Anita, who is assisted by Paul during his free time from work at Centrica, is always looking to come up with another magic elixir. Anita was introduced to real ale by Paul, 48, and began by sampling blond beers. Since then she had tried many varieties including beers from top ale producing country Belgium.

“Now I wouldn’t touch lager unless it’s the real McCoy,” she said.

The couple began experimenting with beer in the garage of their Ulverston home and then went on to learn more about the art at popular real ale pub, the Prince of Wales, in Foxfield, before finally deciding to venture out and form the Ulverston Brewing Company.

During their short time in production the couple have won top prize at the Ulverston Beer Festival and won champion beer of Cumbria in the stout and porter section.

Anita, 48, is a firm believer in beer festivals, saying: “I think it is very important, because there are quite a lot of people who have never tasted beer that will more likely try it at a beer festival than they would if they walked into a pub for instance.

“Part of the evening’s entertainment is trying and talking about the beer and even if it converts half a dozen people at a beer festival to drink real ale brewed locally or in this country, it is better than them going to a pub and drinking a lager, that’s brewed from abroad. It all adds to our local economy really.”

They send beer around the country but do not have time to go to all the festivals as they are too busy brewing. Their beer can end up in London or Manchester.

“Most of the time we don’t exactly know where our beer has gone to,” she said. “We get emails asking for tasting notes or emails to say ‘we’ve enjoyed your beer at a particular beer festival’ which is really really nice. That is the reward.

“The awards really make digging out the mash and cleaning the fermenter all worthwhile!”

Anita says they get their malt from Castleford and also get their hops from Yorkshire and use local water, which is treated.

The brewery is bucking the recession, as Anita also believes, are other outlets which have homemade produce.

Ulverston Brewing Company is some 20 per cent up on this time last year, as Anita said: “I think more and more people are eating and drinking local produce. I think people are realising if they don’t they are going to lose them and it is going to cost more in the long run.”

It’s hard work producing beer as Anita said: “I am finding muscles where I didn’t know I had them. Digging half a mash for instance is a physical demand twice a week.”

The couple are both Ulverston-born and decided the brewery name should be identified with the town of their birth. The beers go out with the town crest on them after they were given permission to use it, and many of the beers carry the Laurel and Hardy theme, with Ulverston being the birthplace of great comedian Stan Laurel.

Anita said: “We wanted to be identified, when our beers went away, that’s why we asked for the Ulverston crest.

“There are lots of beer names that mean nothing to a particular beer area but we wanted a package, so that when it went to London people would associate it with Ulverston.”

Anita enjoys Flying Elephants a lighter beer which she and Paul produce and she also likes another of their own, Stout Ollie, as well as Sierra Nevada brews.

Asked why the brewery began, she said: “I think it was a case of a new challenge. You only live once and if you don’t have a go and somebody else did you would be kicking yourself wouldn’t you? You have got to take a chance now and again in life.”

Their beer is available in most local free trade pubs and is also sent to Booths supermarket in Ulverston where it is distributed to some of their other outlets in the county. The brewery’s beers include: Stout Ollie; Flying Elephants; winter warmer, Bad Medicine; seasonal brew What The Dickens; Laughing Gravy; Another Fine Mess; Lonesome Pine and Desert Son.

l Ulverston Beer Festival takes place at the Coronation Hall from September 3 to 5.

First published at 13:07, Friday, 31 July 2009
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk