Awards Presentation to Edale Brewery

On Thursday 27^th July 2006, Keith Satterly and myself set out by train to The Hillsborough Hotel in Sheffield. Our mission was to meet Richard Grimes, brewer from Edale Brewery to present him with a couple of well-earned awards.

Edale Brewery was started in July 2003 on a two and a half barrel plant, by Richard Grimes and Chris Strivens, located behind Richard’s home. They had been home brewers for more than 30 years, so, wishing to take their interest further, they began by helping out at local micro-breweries, Foxfield, Port Mahon and Kelham Island.

Edale Brewery brews four regular beers, Kinder Right To Roam 3.9% abv, Kinder Trespass 4% abv, Kinder Cross 4.3% abv and Kinder Stout 4.6% abv, with Ringing Roger 6% abv, at Christmas. Seasonal beers and specials also appear from time to time.  

Having been selling beer locally, they now had the opportunity to buy their own pub. The Wellington, a former Gilmours pub, stood derelict for five years and was restored, including the accommodation facilities, and re-named The Hillsborough Hotel, opening in March 2004. It was named Hero and his Horse up until the turn of the 20^th Century. This pub also houses The Crown and Wellington Breweries. A collective of twelve people, who all had other jobs, ran it. They are a non-profit making organisation; they donate 1p from the sale of each pint to the local village hall fund and sell beer at cost to all village events.

Keith and myself handed over the two awards to Richard for Vincent Black Stout,5.2% abv. This had won the Porter & Stout category, as well as the Silver Award Overall at this year’s Harry Cragg Beer Of The Festival competition at The Leicester Beer Festival in March. Richard then explained the name of the winning beer to us.

Vincent Black was first brewed at Edale for the Sheffield Folk Festival in October 2004. Vincent Black Lightning was a famous make of motorbike. Legendary folk singer Richard Thompson (founder of Fairport Convention) sang about a Vincent Black Lightning 1952 – hence the beers strength at 5.2%.

At this point, Richard, Keith and myself sampled the Vincent Black before heading off back to Leicester. Richard was delighted with his awards and thanked us for visiting, offering us a brewery visit in the future, something that Keith Satterly will no doubt be sorting out. We called in two or three nearby pubs before returning to Leicester, as you do. An enjoyable day out all round.

K Williams. 

This page last updated: April 15, 2011

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