Brimstage Brewery, based on an old dairy farm on Brimstage Lane, is celebrating two decades of producing independent beers, with its head brewer saying a loyal following of local drinkers has helped it survive a challenging industry.
Head brewer Thomas Menaul, who has been with the brewery since 2011, told the ECHO: "It's really fantastic to be celebrating 20 years. If you think about the market and the way things are going at the minute for breweries, they're closing down regularly. It's quite an achievement for us to be still around after 20 years. So we're ecstatic."
Family roots and a lasting motto
The brewery was established in 2006 by Neil Young, who wanted to create an independent brewery rooted in the area. That connection to the Wirral remains central to its identity, with Neil's sons Nathaniel and Benjamin now carrying on the family legacy.
Thomas, 49, from Bromborough, said: "The Wirral means everything to us. It's where we started, it's where the family's from that originally started the brewery. Our original motto is 'From the heart of the Wirral', and we still keep that to this day."
Sticking to the original approach
Despite two decades of change across the brewing industry, Brimstage has remained true to the approach established when it first opened. Thomas said much of the brewery's original equipment and processes remain in place, with the team preferring to build on what they already know rather than constantly reinventing things.
He said: "For us, we don't like change. We try and keep everything as close to the original as when Neil started the brewery up. All the equipment, all the process is nearly all exactly the same."
Trapper's Hat drives sales
One beer in particular has helped keep the brewery going through the years. Trapper's Hat has become its bestselling beer, accounting for around 70 to 80 percent of sales compared with its other varieties.
