THE owners of Basingstoke’s only microbrewery will take an audience on a real journey next month.

Couple Phil and Lisa Robins, from Chineham, run Basingstoke’s Longdog Brewery, based on the Moniton Trading Estate, in West Ham Lane.

The business is the culmination of a lifelong dream and a passion for home brewing and drinking beer.

Longdog Brewery eventually came about as the result of circumstance and well-timed misfortune.

Following redundancy from his job in telecoms, father-of-two Phil created the brand and started brewing commercially in the town, building on the rich history of brewing in Basingstoke during the 19th century.

The brewing plant was supplied by Elite Stainless Fabrications, in Swindon, and is a six-barrel plant.

With the three fermentation vessels currently installed, the plant is capable of producing 72 firkins (more than 5,000 pints) of beer each week.

In Basingstoke Discovery Centre, Festival Place, on Tuesday, March 3, Phil and self-proclaimed ‘beer widow’ Lisa will give a talk about their passion and their desire to revive Basingstoke’s brewing history.

From the creation of the brewery, to the brewing process itself, the real ale journey is an exciting one to follow.

A core range of four ales is available year-round, giving a diversity of flavour. They range from the session bitter Bunny Chaser to the light and hoppy Golden Poacher, through to the dependably traditional Brindle Bitter and the more complex Lamplight Porter.

Lisa said: “Having brought brewing back into Basingstoke, we are looking forward to meeting local residents and to introducing them to our real ales, if they’ve not already tried them, and to the process by which they are produced.

“As a small family-run business, craft brewing is our passion and livelihood.

“Being able to share that passion, and the history of our business, with the local community is something we are very keen to do.”

Phil and Lisa’s talk begins at 2pm.

Tickets are priced £3 and can be booked online from the Hantsweb shop, by calling 01256 478671, or in person at the Help Desk in the Discovery Centre.