Thanks to the generosity of the Managing Director of the JW Lees brewery in Manchester, a group of MGS staff enjoyed an evening tour of the brewery this week, with every opportunity to sample the products. This group tour was a donation to the auction organised last year in aid of the Bursary Fund by the senior Sixth Form boys, and it was originally beyond the means of the staff group. However, the first purchaser was unable to organise his group (!) and kindly re-donated the event, at which point the teachers snapped it up. So, in the end, over £1,000 was raised. And a very good time was had by all.
The brewery buildings are listed as historic properties, and we were able to see the difficulty with which modern brewing technology has been introduced - in many cases by holes having to be temporarily knocked in walls. Everything is a tight fit, but the fascinating part is the continued use of traditional materials: Ipswich-malted barley, regionally-sourced hops to create the particular beer flavours, and Lake District water.
Perhaps the most atmospheric part of the buildings is the barrel-filling vault, a damp cellar which, even in the evening, echoes with the sounds of hammering bungs and rolling barrels.
After the tour it was back to the cottage for a delicious buffet supper and further sampling of everything from Moonraker to Strawbeery (yes, really, a summer ale made with strawberries).
And the whole event was most efficiently organised.
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