Grain is a cool independent brewery running out of an old dairy in Alburgh in the lovely rolling (for Norfolk) Waveney Valley. It was started by Phil and Geoff in 2006, driven, they say, "by a love of great beers, a distaste for big business, a desire for a fresh start and an unhealthy dose of insanity."
Phil works with me occasionally, as an IT consultant, and - having failed to check the Grain wares when they did the Ally Pally farmers market two weeks ago due to a fairly nasty bout of swine flu - this weekend, the boy and I ventured north-east up the A12 to see what it is all about.
Yesterday, the brewery was hosting a Hop Harvest Festival Party, to celebrate the harvest and showcase their seasonal Fresh Hop Beer. Great fun: a mini real ale festival complete with bunting, morris men (the Golden Star Morris Dancers), a blues band, a barbecue of local lamb burgers, and a host of prize winning beers. The boy (being the designated drinker) sampled a selection, and we both really enjoyed the Oak brew, a mellow 3.8% pale ale.
Phil also gave us a tour of the brewhouse: most interesting, with wood-panelled conditioning tanks and what I think was a giant copper kettle of some sort.
Very impressive and highly recommended: if you're in the area, do pop in!
We came away with a case comprising India Pale Ale, Oak and Harvest Moon ....
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