Castle Rock to triple brewing capacity

Castle Rock Brewery, the Nottingham real ale brewer and pub operator, is to triple its capacity following a £600,000 investment in plant and premises adjacent to its existing brewery.

Currently, Castle Rock brews a maximum of around 110 barrels each week. The new plant, which will eventually lead to the decommissioning of the existing brewery, will operate five days a week with a maximum capacity of 330 barrels a week.

The venture will overcome current shortages of some Castle Rock ales and see the creation of six new full time jobs in brewing and marketing and widen the availability of its regular and seasonal beers.

"Harvest Pale, CAMRA's 2007 champion beer of Britain, has become so popular in the free trade that its production is putting immense pressure on the brewery," said chairman Chris Holmes.

"We've now got to the stage where too many valued customers, from national chains, small local groups and even pubs in the Castle Rock estate, are being denied their first choices of ale.

"To do nothing would have let landlords and their customers down."

The new Castle Rock Brewery will be situated in part Victorian, part 1960s workshop and office premises.

The brewing equipment will be put in place in early May with the first trial runs expected in June 2010.

Castle Rock currently supplies eight own brand ales ranging in strength from 3.5% abv to 5.5% and brews a beer every month in support of the local Wildlife Trusts.

Construction work, which makes up £150,000 of the total spend, is being carried out by the West Bridgford based HarmanBuild.