Visit to North Riding Brewery, Snainton - 2nd June 2023

Having tasted, and greatly enjoyed, a pint of Mosaic beer in the Mayfield at Seamer, Paul Hudson one of our Members, discovered it was brewed by the North Riding Brewery in Snainton. He contacted the brewery to ask where in Scarborough there was an outlet where he could buy bottles of this wonderful ale?

One thing led to another and he ended up buying a case which was delivered to his door direct from the brewery by a really pleasant man, named Adrian Tonge, a joint owner of the business along with Stuart Neilson. While speaking to him, Paul took the opportunity to ask if it was possible for a group from the Rotary Club to visit the brewery and he readily agreed. He suggested that a Friday afternoon would be a suitable time,  when the work at the brewery was slowing down ready for the weekend. His partner Stuart would be available to give the Club a talk on brewing the ale and there would be plenty of liquid refreshment to be tried. All this at NO COST whatsoever!

The participants were met and given a very warm welcome by the partners Adrian and Stuart and immediately presented with a pint of draught ale, pulled from the pump by the third member of the micro-brewery team, Paula. Stuart then regaled us with a very interesting talk on how the beer was brewed, where locally the barley yeast and hops were sourced and how different flavours could be introduced into the beer. We were told that breweries are normally only licenced to sell to the wholesale trade but that, during the pandemic lockdown, this became a problem. The North Riding managed to survive by additionally licensing to supply the public direct, which is something they still do so that anyone can walk into the brewery, off the street, and be served a beer. The talk lasted for about an hour by which time we had all built up a thirst just listening! Gauging the mood perfectly, Paula was already behind the bar pulling pints of the amber nectar, in anticipation of the onslaught!

As we’d hoped, at the end of the tour, there was plenty of bottled beer to be purchased in presentation packs and we were informed by email later that the partners had been very pleased with subsequent sales and have offered an open invitation to any Rotarians passing, should they feel the need for liquid refreshment. (Barkers Lane, Snainton)

Paul gave a vote of thanks to Stuart for what had been a very interesting talk and worthwhile visit and was joined, in the usual manner, by our members showing their appreciation. The afternoon, turned out to be a great success!