For fans of craft beer and independent businesses, nothing quenches your thirst for adventure quite like than booking yourself on an independent craft brewery tour.
And it’s never been a better time to go to award-winning Windmill Hill Brewery, in Warwickshire, where the doors have recently opened on their new-look taproom.
Situated underneath the Arches at Victoria Business Park, the brewing space has been transformed with new custom booth seating, a six-line keg tap wall and a stunning Chesterton Windmill Chandelier centrepiece.
Director Gavin Leach has enjoyed success with the brewery since he turned his back on a career in pharmaceuticals to establish the business partner Rob Singleton in 2017. Since then Windmill Hill has gone on to create award-winning seasonal and limited-edition beers, found on sale in an increasing number of independent shops and bars across south Warwickshire.
The independent brewery was born out of ‘a desire to create unique beers that both uphold traditional value and utilise expert scientific knowledge.’ Taproom guests can choose from Windmill Hill’s signature range offering a 4.5% ABV Pale Ale; 4% ABV Copper Ale; 6% IPA; 4.5% ABV Lager; 4% ABV Porter; 3.8% ABV Session IPA and 5.3% ABV Weiss Beer in 500ml bottles, as well as seasonal lines.
Visitors to the two-hour brewery tour have the opportunity to learn more about the equipment and every stage of the brewing process. It gets off to the best possible start when we’re served the first of our four pints of Windmill’s beers before the session even kicks off. Then Gavin proceeded to talk us through the chemistry behind how the ‘magic’ happens, including the opportunity to touch, smell – and even taste – some of the key ingredients.
Plenty of questions are encouraged and, as the pints continue to flow, we’re able to contrast and compare our favourites from the Windmill signature range.
All visitors are also offered 10% off their range of any Windmill beers or branded merchandise on the day, including everything from 5L mini kegs and gift packs to T-shirts, hoodies, pint glasses, bottle openers and even Mini Cool Bags.
Just a five-minute walk from Leamington Train Station, the brewery taproom accommodates up to 40 people inside.
The beers slide down particularly smoothly in the knowledge that this whole experience has cost a mere £20 per head! Extraordinary value. And, for many, the five-minute walk from the train station negates the expense of a taxi or the arguments over who is designated driver. Now I’ll drink to that!
Further information about the Brewery Tours can be found here.