Satellite Group

Tue, Oct 25th 2016 at 6:15 pm - 7:15 pm

Social - Visit to Phipps Brewery



Phipps_NBC_Brewery_Visit.jpg

A visit to


Phipps Albion Brewery


Bridge Street, Northampton


6.30 pm on 25th Oct. 2016



We will have a tour of the brewery, and a talk on its history, followed by supper in the brewery cafe.  They have a limit of 25 visitors, so SG members get first dibs.  Lunch members can add their names to the interactive board on a first come first served basis


Visit to the “New” Phipps Albion Brewery

The Satellite Group enjoyed another of their social evenings at the Phipps Brewery in October, joined by a few lucky Lunch Members.  As someone who has been on a few such tours, this was a cut above, as we learned of the history of brewing in Northampton as well as how beer is brewed.

Who would have thought that Northampton is one of only three towns in the country that can obtain water from aquifers below the town that is perfect for brewing?  The others are Burton and Tadcaster.   Burton’s water is the standard which all beers brewed in England must meet, so brewers here have a head start as Northampton aquifer water needs no treatment. This is not the water we drink, of course, but that which is filtered through the surrounding limestone and is pumped up from deep wells under Bridge Street.

Our excellent guide gave us chapter and verse on brewing in Northampton, the scale of which was amazing.  I lost count of the number of different breweries that once were clustered at the bottom of Bridge Street and the stories of rivalry and takeovers were fascinating.  Now there are just two breweries there, the biggest of which is Carlsberg but Phipps certainly has the pedigree.

At the beginning of the tour we were able to taste different beers and at the end were given tokens worth two pints in the excellent Albian Bar, where we enjoyed our evening meal and spent the tokens (unless we were driving home, of course).

John Evitt

'What We Do' Main Pages:

We are celebrating 100 years of service in the Community and Internationally in 2021-22

more  

Newsletter Library 2023

more  

The Satellite Group is for Club members who would rather meet in the evening, instead of at lunchtime. Their activities include a full range of Rotary activities. Some of these are shown below

more  

We have been twinned with two other International Clubs for many years and enjoy regular visits to each others countries.

more  

Helping people round the world through International Service. Examples of previous projects are shown on the right. Just click on the picture for more information.

more  

How we raise funds to support local organisations and charities

more  

Projects for which the Club has obtained a Grant from Rotary Foundation Funding

more  

Providing support to people locally

more  

Offering Opportunities for Young People

more  

Club History

more  

All Northampton Rotary Events

more  

Buy on line and support our Rotary charities

more  

The Rotary Club of Northampton welcomes members of our community who cannot spare the time or the resources to be full members, but would like to help with certain events.

more