Hogs Back Brewery has marked a successful hop harvest with a party, which included a £7,500 charity donation and the triumphant return of Paralympic double gold medallist Georgie Hermitage, who used to work at the brewery.
Over the course of the day around 800 guests attended the Hop Harvest Festival at the brewery in Tongham, enjoying children’s entertainment, live music, freshly-cooked food and, of course, a beer or two from the award-winning Hogs Back range. Local residents, members of the Tongham TEA Club named after the flagship Hogs Back Beer, and family and friends all came together to celebrate the harvesting of the hops from the brewery’s 3.5-acre garden.
To mark the occasion, managing director, Rupert Thompson, presented a cheque for £7,500 to Lorna Killin, corporate partnerships officer with mental health charity MIND. Guests also had the chance to meet Paralympic sprinter Georgie, and even hold the two gold medals she won in Rio.
Rupert said: “Celebrations of the hop harvest are a centuries-old tradition in the Farnham area, and we’re delighted to have revived the tradition with our hop garden. We select a charity to support each year, and chose MIND due to the remarkable statistic that every year 1 in 4 people will suffer some form of mental health problem. By raising awareness people may feel more comfortable talking to friends and seeking help when they need it.
“It was also wonderful to welcome Georgie and her family back to the brewery. Georgie worked with us for two years in our trade office, and we know the whole community shares our pride in her achievements in Rio. There were many people who wanted to congratulate her, and Georgie found time to talk to all of them.
“The weather was kind to us and everyone had a great time. The celebration will continue over the next few weeks with a special beer, Home Harvest Ale, brewed exclusively using only hops from the Tongham hop garden. We now have to start planning on how to make next year’s Hop Harvest Festival, which will coincide with our 25th anniversary, even bigger and better.”
