Charles taps into a Rutland tradition

The award-winning Grainstore Brewery in Oakham, Rutland, brewed up a special beer for last week's visit to the town by the Prince of Wales. The Prince was first to taste the 4% abv Rutland Welcome brew when he called into the Brewery Tap and chatted to customers. Co-founder of the brewery, Tony Davis, who previously worked for the now defunct Ruddles Brewery in the county for 16 years, said the Prince seemed to be impressed with the beer. "We showed him around the brewery and he saw that we are very traditional in our brewing methods, using whole hops throughout the brewing process," he said. "And when he had a taste of the ale he commented particularly on the hops. "The bar staff and customers were very excited to meet him and they were all very impressed with how sociable he was." Davis said the Prince's interest in old buildings and his liking for real ale had led to the visit as the brewery is housed in a Victorian railway building. The Prince was in the county to present a horseshoe to the Lord of Manor, a Rutland tradition whenever the county is visited by a peer of the realm. The Grainstore Brewery is a Rutland success story and last year was named national own brew pub of the year by the Campaign for Real Ale's Good Beer Guide. It sends its beers all over the East Midlands and Anglia, and also boasts JD Wetherspoon amongst its regular customers.