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From marketing to making beer BY FRANCESCA TAFFS fran@northdevonjournal.co.uk
A MULLACOTT brewery has been reinvented under new ownership and has taken over an Ilfracombe pub. Wizard Ales, which was taken over by Bruce Hutton on July 18 this year, now owns the Pier Tavern at the end of Ilfracombe Quay. Mr Hutton was the chief executive at Bray Leino for a number of years before moving on to a new challenge in the brewing industry. The company has since taken on the Pier Tavern, re-naming it the Pier Brewery Tap and Grill. Wizard Ales currently has nine tipples in the making, which Mr Hutton says will all eventually be sold in the Pier. There is also an Ilfracombe Pier Ale in the pipeline, a take on the existing IPA which stands for Indian Pale Ale. Mr Hutton is ensuring every last by-product of the brewing process is not wasted, even using the leftover grain to make beer buns for their gourmet burgers which feature on the Pier’s new menu. “Most brewers are guys who love brewing beer but have no idea how to do it,” said Mr
Hutton. “But because our background is marketing our idea is to do more to get our brand out there.” He said Wizard Ales already service many pubs in the area and will offer its products within a 25 to 30 mile radius. Mr Hutton also said the brewing process allows him to be more creative. “I was in advertising for years and worked my way up from the bottom to the top but at the end of the day you don’t really make anything,” he said. “There is something wonderful about brewing beer because it is pretty much the same recipe as it was thousands of years ago.” Mr Hutton said he and his brother attended two brewery courses in Manchester and Sunderland which both covered different aspects of the trade. He said Wizard Ales is being kept very family orientated, but added the company has also just taken on an apprentice brewer. Mr Hutton said the Pier will be kept open through the renovation process and he is hopeful the outside work will be completed by Easter next year. For more information about Wizard Ales visit www.wizardbrewery.co.uk.
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Starting NOW! Petroc offers a huge range of quality, affordable degree courses right here in North Devon From Events Management to Dance and Human Biosciences to Ceramics, we have helped hundreds of students gain university-level qualifications without leaving the area. We offer both full and part time foundation degrees and, for the first time, this year we will also be delivering BA Honours degrees. You’ll find small class sizes and one-to-one support and to help with the cost of studying there are student loans and supported bursary packages available.
Petroc has a place for you on a degree course this year. ■ BREWERY: Bruce Hutton gets to grips with one of his latest brews.
Picture: Rob Tibbles Ref: BNRT20131001F-
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■ CHEERS: The brewery team raise a glass.
Picture: Rob Tibbles Ref:
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■ WIZARD ALES BREWERY: Two of their ales, Druids Fluid and Lundy’s Gold. Picture: Rob Tibbles Ref: BNRT20131001F-004_C
Repairs at tennis courts IMPROVEMENTS are being undertaken on Bicclescombe Park tennis courts in Ilfracombe this autumn.
Visit www.petroc.ac.uk/he or call the HE Team now on 01271 852365.
Resurfacing work on three of the seven courts started on Monday and is due to take two weeks.
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North Devon Campus Old Sticklepath Hill Barnstaple, Devon EX31 2BQ
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