Eyam Brewery is a local microbrewery that makes beers for supply to the licenced trade and direct to the public.
The company has grown since it opened a real ale shop in the village in 2015, selling local ales and ciders. A couple of years later the brewery was established in a unit next to the shop. It is now based in the neighbouring village of Great Hucklow.
The company had previously marketed their beers in 500/750 glass bottles and wished to appeal to a broader demographic market. In an increasingly challenging market, with rising costs, there was a need to diversify.
A £4,599 Small Business Adaptation Grant from Derbyshire Dales District Council helped the purchase of a 1,000 litre Conical Fermenter, a can filler and a can seamer. This has enabled the company to diversify into selling force carbonated beers in cans.
The company’s range of beers all relate to Eyam’s history as the ‘plague village’ in the 1660s. The villagers made the decision to limit the spread of the plague by cutting themselves off from the surrounding settlements, thus saving thousands of lives. Beer names such as ‘Riley Gold’ and ‘Ring o’ Roses’ remind us of this remarkable sacrifice.
Gervaise Dawson (owner) says:
This will allow is to broaden the appeal of our products from those who enjoy bottled beer to those who prefer canned beer. In turn, we will be able to experiment with more modern styles of beer to attract a different market demographic.
This grant was awarded by Derbyshire Dales District Council and funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
