In October, 2024, ten members of the club made their way to Jersey to visit the Liberation brewery. The premises do not run commercial tours and are not generally open to the public, however, we were able to secure a visit as shareholders in the Liberation Group parent company, Caledonia Investments. Liberation Group also own the Butcombe Brewery near Bristol.
The tour was led by the head brewer, who was very enthusiastic about the brewery and pleased to be able to host a group of well-informed beer enthusiasts. Unusually, the tour started in the small bar area within the brewery and we were able to sample some of the cask ale produced on the premises. Our host told us about the history of the brewery and we had an opportunity to examine the large range of memorabilia displayed within the premises.
Club members enjoying the Liberation brewery bar.
We then visited the quality assurance lab, and the testing process for ensuring the quality of the product was explained to us.
This was followed by a brewery tour proper, where we saw all the production stages and the equipment used.
Finally, we returned to the bar for a further opportunity to sample the products.
While visiting the island, many members took the opportunity to extend their stay and explore further. The island has many attractions, all of which can be accessed using the excellent local bus service. There are many pubs worth a visit, offering local brews from Liberation and familiar imports from the UK.
All-in-all, a very successful visit.
Report by Ian Brindley – CMIC Committee Member