From the start, Greg was determined to prove that it’s perfectly possible for a business to be both financially successful and sustainable for people and planet. It was going against the grain; “Such a business was considered weird or even impossible back then, as there were hardly any around,” says Greg.
It’s actually the second Stroud Brewery; the first was founded in 1760, and kept the beer flowing for local people until 1967. It’s no surprise that the new Stroud Brewery team have the utmost respect for the UK’s beer heritage. Describing their beers as “Classic, and then some”, they make award-winning classics, then add a unique flourish to take them to another level. “Our untamed brewing team often put their own take on this, producing a diversity of styles!”
Underpinning all of Stroud Brewery’s beers is a commitment to using 100% organic ingredients, supporting the farming which looks after our wildlife and regenerates soils. Their hops are supplied by one of only three organic hop growers in the UK, and their organic malt comes from one of just two suppliers in the country who use a traditional malting process.
With their eyes on a sustainable future for beer, the brewery chairs a special research project to develop new varieties of hops, which can be grown organically and adapt to the challenges of climate change.
Seventy per cent of Stroud Brewery’s supplies are sourced from within a 50-mile radius of the brewery, with barley grown in the surrounding Cotswolds. Their energy is 100% renewable (including from solar panels on the brewery’s roof), rainwater is collected to flush the toilets, swift and bat boxes have been added to the building… These are truly planet-friendly beers!
The brewery also works hard to be socially sustainable. Their tap room in Stroud has become a local landmark, creating a fun, welcoming space for the community. They are a Real Living Wage employer, and have won an Inclusive Employer Award for their work to make sure everyone feels supported and welcome to work there.
“Cheers!” say the team. “Enjoy your Stroud beer, and remember – change is brewing.”
