Real ale experts set up Reedley Hallows Brewing Company

Peter Gouldsbrough, of Burnley, has used his real ale expertise to set up the Reedley Hallows Brewing Company alongside business partner Roy Dixon (63), of Nelson.

The 50-year-old, who was head of brewing at Moorhouses, has started producing his own craft ales at a microbrewery in Farrington Road.

Peter, who scooped five international brewing awards and the “Champion Beer of Britain” title at the Accrington Road brewery, hopes his latest venture will be a big hit.

He said: “The British brewing industry is as healthy as it has been for years – especially real ales.

“At first it can be hard for people to trust you, but I have got a good reputation for brewing. You have got to make something a little bit special.

“This is a craft brewery and everything is done by hand.”

Peter explained that the brewery only opened in March but order have been flying in for Reedley Hallows ale.

“Word is spreading pretty quickly. In just five or six weeks it has gone really well. We are getting people from Manchester, Colne, Clitheroe, Chorley and Rochdale as well as pubs all over Burnley.

“CaMRA people are like beer spotters. They will try something and then pass it on. It is like a massive grapevine and the industry works on word of mouth.”

Peter, who has 20 years brewing experience, has been perfecting the recipes for the 3.6 % Old Laund Bitter session beer and the lager-like 3.9% Filly Close Blonde.

“We have been blending the flavours and finding a fine balance of what we want. From the first brew we have been slowly changing it to get it exactly how we want it.”

Peter admitted he almost left brewing altogether after finishing at Moorhouses six years ago to take up a new trade.

But brewing drew him back in, and after helping set up Cross Bay Brewery in Morecambe and Pennine Brewery in Batley, he deciding to start up Reedley Hallows alongside Roy in December.

Now his fledgling firm is producing around 40 nine gallon “firkins” a week and demand is growing.

“When I started at Moorhouses I was working on little equipment like this. I did all my training on five and 10 barrel kit. Now they are up to 100 barrels and they are a very big firm.

“This is our baby. But from little acorns grow big trees. We want to expand.”