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| Leaving presents from the Rooster's/Daleside team |
I would be moving back to the North East, my place of origin. And without any kind of time off between roles the transition was going to be quick. After seven years in the lovely Harrogate it seemed as if suddenly, over night, all the Yorkshire people would be gone as I was projected to the former mining village of Bowburn, just south of Durham to work for the much loved Durham brewery.
Working for breweries that have been around since seemingly forever is another re-occuring theme of my life. Founded by former music teacher and historic beer style enthusiast Steve Gibbs, Durham Brewery is the oldest brewery in county Durham. As a beer drinker from the North East Durham Brewery has always conjured up memories of classic premium strength beer styles with classy labels packaged in 500ml bottles that would get stashed away for Christmas or beer and cheese night. They were the ones who would brew where nobody else in the region would dare to brew. Yet on the on-trade Durham Brewery was known for classic session cask pale ale's like Magus and White Gold.
Although in my early years of commercial brewing I never got the privilege of meeting Durham Brewery. I do remember how the micro/craft beer boom at the time was awash with new brewing ventures that were popping up everywhere. The North East's beer blogerrati/enthusiasts were alive with energy, lapping it all up. The craft/micro brewing revolution was so much to take in. Yet at the same time many of them felt the region needed a token old school brewing stalwart to get behind as a point of difference. After all in the world of craft beer, diversity is in itself a selling point.
When the likes of Hexhamshire, Hadrian and Border, Maxim, Mordue and Jarrow breweries all at a glace seemed to be framed around the brown to pale session cask pint. Durham Brewery in a sense were the ones already brewing craft before it was craft. Fixated on beers that were both boundary pushing yet inherently traditional. In the years to follow Durham Brewery persevered to bring the region the likes of White Stout (actually an IPA) and Diabolus (barrel aged sour Imperial stout). All heavily promoted on social media by PR front lady and later head brewer/owner/sister priest of the yeast Elly Bell (who after finally meeting her turned out to be lovely).
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| A beast of an old school brew kit |
In the current setting Durham Brewery is a 12 barrel brew plant combined with a quaint little taproom. Fronted by partners Elly Bell and Mark the taproom hosts multiple themed events centred around and inclusive to classic motorcars, BBQ's, beer, motorbikes, seasonal events, fun, community and dogs. With a beer range combining modern forward thinking crafty pale ales and flavoured milk stouts with traditional classics like Evensong and St Cuthbert served in cask, keg and bottle.
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| Post mashing in Fable pale ale at Durham brewery |
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| Start of boil |
An aspect that was completely new to me is that the majority of beer going into small pack is bottle conditioned. No filtration, pasteurisation or centrifugation involved. We're talking 100% au-natural, the full Charlie Dimmock. Which is interesting yet involves a lot of care and attention. Yeast counting, ageing and controlled conditioning.
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| Magus bottling |
So it has been as much of an insightful experience as it has an adventure. Featuring ventures in the van delivering beer around the North East and brewing old school beer styles on an old school brew kit. All in all a really positive new chapter.
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| Cheers |
