Anyone know of any brewing cooperatives?

[EskiBrew]

I've been wondering for a while about the idea of a community driven brewery along the lines of a cooperative. Does anyone know of anything which currently exists in the UK along these lines?

 

[kev]

Do you mean like a brew club or a group that shares beer between members?

The latter is illegal unless duty is paid.

K

 

[Swift Pint]

I presume you mean, like bulk buys of ingredients to get better prices?
Sounds like a good idea if you have enough people locally who are up for it. :thumb:

 

[EskiBrew]

No sorry, I didn't explain myself adequately

What I'm talking about is a legally registered commercial microbrewery but one that is run by a community group for the benefit of the members and community.

Edit: To clarify further in case of any doubt - where the beer is be duty paid and sold for profit. The profit goes back to the community group that runs the brewery. :thumb:

 

[kev]

Ahh so you're talking about a brewery that's on its last legs and the local community buys it out, etc??

Sounds great and something I'd like to be involved in........but not something I've heard of I'm afraid

K

 

[Aleman]

There are a few I have heard of, where the village has bought the pub, and they run a brewery to provide the pub with beer . . . which is used by the village.


Blowed if I can remember any real details though . . . I remember reading about one in Lancashire life sometime this year

 

[BarnsleyBrewer]

A good idea, or at least until there's a power struggle for head brewer title...

 

[oz11]

There are a few I have heard of, where the village has bought the pub, and they run a brewery to provide the pub with beer . . . which is used by the village.


Blowed if I can remember any real details though . . . I remember reading about one in Lancashire life sometime this year

Are you thinking about Hesket Newmarket? :wha:

 

[kev]

Sounds like a committee

.......and they boil my piss.

K

 

[graysalchemy]

There are a few bakeries which are community owned social entiprises. They are based on the American Community Agriculture model, but are known in this country as social entiprises.

here are a few bakeries which work in this way

http://www.loafonline.co.uk/bakery/

http://thebakerydunbar.org/

Not heard of a brewery though

There is also this website

http://www.socialenterprise.org.uk/about

Really like the idea though. :thumb:

 

[Baldbrewer]

Yep sounds a good idea , wasnt there a tv programme about a community bakery? :wha:

 

[Devonhomebrew]

Do you mean like a brew club or a group that shares beer between members?

The latter is illegal unless duty is paid.

K

Not illegal if you dont receive any money for it if you dont get money the gov dont have to take their cut so its 100% legal

 

[EskiBrew]

Thanks guys - you've caught my drift now :thumb:

Thanks for the links GA :thumb:
I'll do some reading :ugeek:

Not illegal if you dont receive any money for it if you dont get money the gov dont have to take their cut so its 100% legal

Without wishing to go off topic, as far as I am aware, homebrew is legal for personal consumption only. I'm sure HMRC would turn a blind eye to giving the odd bottle to a friend but this is nothing to do with my question.

Edit: Thanks for the heads up on Hesket Newmarket too :thumb: