News & Events
2010
January
Like the rest of the country we are snowed up to our eyeballs and despite the joy of the snow it’s a frustrating time because we are unable to get back to work on the brew house. The fermenters and brewing vessels are a forlorn sight drizzled with snow. Our big problem is that we can’t concrete – the ground is too cold with or without the snow cover, so all we can do is sit and wait. The forecast looks like we are set for the month – we have daily weather chats.
We have alas also had to delay our drilling into the red sandstone to source the mineral water we need for the pale ale. Whilst we know geologically we are secure we are all keen to see it flowing so on that point also we must wait for the weather to turn. Despite the weather we are still hoping that when we get going the core build will take us about 3 months.
Better news though – our latest Joule’s refurbished pub, the Duke of York which opened in December had a very good Christmas, a big well done to Paul and Wendy, it’s never easy opening a new pub and opening around Christmas time makes it even harder, still, they have done very well at a busy time.
2009
We have condensed 2009 to the highlights: our biggest event was of course the start of our brewery build in May with tree felling and land clearing, fanfaring in October when the steel frame was erected. We reckon this marked the half way point of the project. The frame was quite tricky; very technical due to the tower and the loads we have to support, and it was a very good excuse to have a few beers at the Tap with our friends from Minshalls the steel contractor once it was complete. Since then we have been working in the ground, the team lead by Chris Blase has been battling the wet weather but still making good going.
The year was really busy on the pub front; we opened the Cock Inn, Leek as a Joule’s pub as well as the Fox and Hounds, Cheswardine, the Royal Oak, Wrexham and the Duke of York, Lichfield, all 4 now in the brewery livery. We also acquired some sites from Punch this year which we will get round to developing in 2010/11. All in all we now have 15 Joule’s pubs about half of those awaiting a refurbishment plan but all are open, trading and friendly as ever.
It has been a very busy year but 2010 is the big one – after so many years in planning it seems incredible that this year we will bring back Joule’s Pale Ale for the first time in over 40 years … we can’t wait to get brewing.
