Raising a pint for brewery birthday (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Raising a pint for brewery birthday

11:03am Saturday 17th October 2009 in

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WHAT better way to toast the first anniversary of a north Hampshire brewing company than by unveiling a new special brew?

Ruddy Darter made its debut at Odiham and Greywell Cricket Club last Saturday – and it went down a treat.

The ruby ale was launched to mark the first anniversary of Andwell Brewing Company, owned and run by Adam Komrower, based at Lodge Farm, in North Warnborough.

Taking its name from a red-bodied dragonfly, Ruddy Darter is made |from English hops and locally |grown barley, and is the fourth in a range of beers produced by the microbrewery.

Adam explained: “We wanted a beer that is different from the rest of our range. We’ve got a nice light amber beer, with Resolute Bitter, a blond ale with Gold Muddler and a light pale ale with King John.

“We wanted to have something that could fit into that range and be a little bit different, and a ruby ale seemed to be the way to go.

“It’s a lovely colour and it’s a nice, easy-to-drink beer.”

Adam said the new beer follows on from requests from customers who wanted a slightly stronger beer.

But he said: “We’ve no intention |of producing really strong alcoholic beer. What we want to produce are beers that people are happy to drink, enjoy and savour, and not something people are going to have one pint of and fall on their backs.”

Delighted with the first year of trading, Adam said: “Business is about where I expected it to be. We pushed quite hard in our first year to get to where we are and we’ve obviously got a long way to go.

“What’s nice is that we are growing and adding more customers on a weekly basis, and we are increasing our sales steadily.

“It’s important to continually promote the beers, making sure people are aware of them, and to ensure everything is well branded and that we have the right products.”

Among those enjoying Ruddy Darter at its launch was Phil Myatt, chairman of the North Hampshire branch of CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale). He was among those to give the beer the thumbs-up.

His first reaction was: “It’s my kind of beer – it’s a good beer full of flavour.”

Andwell beers can be purchased through local retailers, and pubs including The Jolly Miller and The Lord Derby in North Warnborough, and in The Maidenhead Inn, The Queens Arms and The Winkle, in Basingstoke, as well as at Odiham and Greywell Cricket Club, which receives sponsorship support from the brewery.