Family ventures into brewing industry

Richard Keene with his newly brewed lager

A husband and wife team have launched a microbrewery which is set to make a mark on pubs around Banbury.

Richard and Emma Keene of Chipping Norton set up the Cotswold Brewing Company as a longterm family venture after they spotted a gap in the market for an independent niche brewery.

From premises in Foscot near Chipping Norton they will brew and supply draft premium lager and speciality beers to pubs in the area.

Two pubs are already stocking their first creation Cotswold Premium, a five per cent lager. They expect to be supplying up to 50 more pubs and restaurants within the first year of business.

"The reception from the first two pubs has been excellent," said Mr Keene, 37. "I'm trying to brew the beer to be a mature well balanced lager as opposed to disco fizz, with some of the aspects of ale."

Mr Keene, who has two daughters aged 15 months and four weeks, studied brewing, distilling and microbiology at HeriottWatt University. He has worked as a brewer for companies such as Courage, Pilgrim, Freedom and Archers.

But after completing his MBA at Oxford Brookes University last year he decided he wanted to use his brewing skills and the knowledge he had acquired on the course to set up his own company.

His wife Emma, 32, who worked in IT client management and sales, will take on the administration aspects of the business. "We are passionate about beer and feel there is a gap in the regional market for a locally produced quality premium lager," she said. "We bought the brewing equipment in the U.S. and shipped it over in early spring this year and started production at the start of the summer."

Mr Keene said the lager would not be competing with the established ale brewers in the area such as the Hook Norton Brewery.

An official launch party was held on September 30 at the brewery.

Family ventures into brewing industry

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