Cornish coast brewhotel splashes out on casks to make its ale go further
By: JimOldfield
July 1st, 2012
Cornwall’s award-winning Driftwood Spars hotel-brewery has spent £9,000 on over 100 new casks, to allow it to target new sales beyond the county.
Such has been the Spars’ success that the St Agnes hotel now brews 11 different ales – including Alfie’s Revenge, which won Best Winter Beer at the National Winter Ales Festival 2012.
Driftwood Spars owner Louise Treseder said: “Up until now, we’ve been unable to keep up with demand for our beers, and that’s without actively pursuing sales.
“We produce great beers, and with the help of our investment in new casks, it means that more people can enjoy them.”
Brewer Pete Martin added: “We focus on brewing beers with individual characteristics and flavours, and it’s quite a task producing the range that we do.
“Now we are being recognised on a national level for the quality of our beer, demand has been steadily increasing.
“This investment in new casks means we can expand this side of the business.”
Aside from having three of its ales on tap in the pub at any one time, it also supplies beers to other pubs in the region and ale festivals across the UK.
The hotel itself is a fascinating building. On a road running down to the sea at Trevaunance Cove, it has been a tin mining warehouse, chandlery, sail making loft and fish cellar, before becoming a four-star hotel, noted nationally for its food and ales.
Hand Pumped links
www.driftwoodspars.com
