Fell Brewery, Flookburgh

Who is the brewer and how did you start out?

Tim Bloomer and Andrew Carter are the co-owners of Fell Brewery in Flookburgh. Tim is the brewer and Andrew deals with marketing and sales. They are long term friends and both are local to the area. Tim was working in London as a chemical engineer, but wanting to return back to Cumbria. On a visit he talked with Andrew about the dream of starting up a brewery and that was the beginning of Fell. Tim completed a Masters degree in brewing at Herriot Watt University and the plant was installed in late 2012. The first brew was March 2013 in their five barrel plant, with brewing now taking place three times a week.

What are the regular beers?

Tim’s core brews are Yolo, Robust Porter, Tinderbox IPA and Nectar. He also tries to brew one new beer a month. Fell beers are available in cask, kegs and cans and Tim tries to provide a good range in each of these. Fell beers are available in a wide variety of locations, including Wainwright’s and eS Bar in Keswick, 3 Hares Café in Sedbergh, the Sun Inn in Coniston, the Factory Tap in Kendal and The Snug at Carnforth.

What next?

Tim and Andrew are planning on installing a fourth fermenter to help with demand in summer. Seizing an opportunity, Fell is opening its first bar in the spring of 2017 in Lowther St, Kendal where they will sell their own beers and a range of others too.

Favourite beer?

Tim particularly likes dark beers, so of his own brews, he enjoys Robust Porter. Tim also enjoys Belgian beers, especially anything from the De Dolle brewery in Esen, West Flanders.

Article with thanks to beer enthusiast Chris Holland and Judith Moore