Farr Brew, based in Wheathampstead, St Albans, has secured its first nationwide award — the top prize for Green Business from the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA).
Founder and head brewer, Nick Farr, said: “The award is a real honour for the company and for St Albans and surrounding regions generally — particularly as CAMRA has their headquarters based there.”
The brewery currently employs five local people, and has plans for expansion in the near future.
The sustainability message has always been at the core of all business decisions and this holistic approach clearly appealed to the judging panel, who complimented the company on its ongoing commitment to choosing the green path in all elements of the brewing process.
These measures include:
- A Hop Collective with more than 250 members
- A commitment to direct re-use of the vast majority of waste, rather than purely to recycling
- Local sourcing of ingredients — honey produced in hives within a few hundred yards is used in its CAMRA award-winning Porter, for instance. This year sees the production of hops on a field near the brewery.
- Buying local — the company’s tap room is open every Saturday and includes a selection of wine, cider, spirits and other produce, all sourced within a few miles of the brewery.
2018 also sees the commitment to locality and sustainability grow further through:
- Linking up with The Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust to create a beer bearing the famous badger logo. Proceeds will go to the trust. Drinkers even have the chance to name the beer – click here to find out more. The trust will also be assisting Farr Brew in creating a wildlife meadow in the areas of the field not yet used for hops.
- Bringing out a pale ale to raise money for the new St Albans Museum and Gallery project
- Donating profits from the Chief Jester ale to the Rennie Grove Hospice
- Producing a beer to support the St Albans Cathedral fund
- Heavy involvement in St Albans Sustainability Week
