Hook Norton brewery and village go green

Hook Norton and its brewery will be renewed with the help of a c. £500,000 government investment.

As part of the Department of Energy and Climate Change grant, the Hook Norton brewery will be installed with a bio-diesel tank, which will help to supply bio-diesel fuel to 50 households.

More generally, the village will receive solar panels, two community electric pool cars and a ground source heat pump for the primary school. Hook Norton is one of 12 communities to win grants as part of the Government’s Low Carbon Community Challenge. The communities will act as ‘test beds’ for a ‘green future’ of lower heating, lighting and electrical emissions.

Hook Norton Managing Director James Clarke said: ““The community has been working on reducing its carbon footprint for a number of years and we fully support what they are doing”. The Hook Norton Brewery was started over 150 years ago by farmer and ‘maltster’ John Harris. James Clarke is his great great grandson.

At the International Beer Challenge (IBC) 2009, Hook Norton won gold medals for a Double Stout, Twelve Days, Haymaker and Old Hooky. Hooky Bitter and Hooky Gold bronze awards. All six beers won medals for the quality of their bottle design and labelling. Hook Norton’s February guest ales include St Austell Tribute, Batemans XXXB, Batemans GHA.

12 February 2010