Uley Brewery, in Gloucestershire, is celebrating 40 years at the heart of its community and will be marking its anniversary with a range of 10 special beers.
The brewery employs and serves local people, with head brewer Ken Lush (pictured above) in charge of the brewhouse for 35 of those 40 years.
A traditional tower brewery, Uley still uses traditional brewing techniques and English hops to make well-known award-winning beers such as Old Spot and Pig’s Ear.
The brewery was built by Samuel Price in 1833, on the site of the lower village spring outlet. Brewing and malting continued under the aegis of the Price family and later the Ayliffe family until the collapse of the woollen mill trade at the end of the 19th century.
The brewhouse and cellars went on to have many uses, mostly agricultural, but were being used as kennels until Chas Wright, a local beer wholesaler, was given the opportunity to re-open the brewery in 1984.
He fully refurbished the site, with tanks made locally, until the brewery was ready to open again in 1985. The first pint was pulled at The Red Lion, Arlingham, which still serves Uley beer today.
At the end of 2018, Chas handed over the reins to Martin Brooks, who continues to develop the brewery in line with its traditional heritage.
“This is an exciting year for the brewery,” said chief operating officer Emily Brooks. “We have one foot in the past with our commitment to traditional brewing techniques, but are looking to secure the future with new beers and more events for the local community to share in”.
