Micro brewery opens in Annan

Jan 27 2010 by Sharon Liptrott, Dumfries Standard Wednesday

A FATHER and son team are hoping to turn a part-time brewing hobby into a thriving Annan business.

A self-employed risk management specialist, John Maddison, who hails from Northumberland, has set up a commercial microbrewery in a back garden shed.

His son, Jason, is the head brewer of their company, Madcap Brewery, which will specialise in strong cask ales and bottled ales using locally-sourced ingredients to give different seasonal flavours.

At the moment they can only produce four casks at a time for commercial premises.

However, they are already making a name for themselves with real ale connoisseurs in The Cavens Arms in Dumfries and in The Bluebell in Annan.

And they are hoping that over time they will be able to expand and create new jobs for the Annandale area.

John, who has lived in Annan for the past 10 years, first developed a taste for specialist beers on holiday in Belgium more than 30 years ago.

He said: “It was so much nicer than anything you could get in the UK at that time. They offered more flavour, depth and complexity.

“I realised that others in the UK were missing out and decided to fill the niche. I ran a successful company called Beers Unique in the North East, importing beers from Belgium to the UK for retail and wholesale.

“It was very successful until supermarkets caught on and started stocking more imported beers and I sold the company.

“Unfortunately the supermarkets stick to a limited range so I guess me brewing my own ale is a way of hitting back. I know there is a market out there for people who appreciate real ales.”

John’s enthusiasm was caught by his son Jason who is a qualified brewer, although he currently works as an engineer with a bus company in the North East. He travels to Annan to run the microbrewery but hopes that the hobby will eventually become his full-time employment.

It has taken two years for the necessary permissions and Customs and Excise licences to come through and they only officially began brewing in November.

Their first draft ale, a winter warmer “Annandale Black” was launched in Dumfries’ Cavens Arms last month.

The first pint was poured at 7pm and was sold out by 10pm!

This week their second cask ale, “Deil’s Awa” – produced specially for Burns Night – went on sale at The Cavens and at the Bruce in Dumfries.

John said: “We are delighted with how well they have been received. Our cask ales will go on sale seasonally and we are working on one for spring called ‘Honey Madness’ which will use local honey from John Mellise’s honey farm at Auldgirth.”

All cask ales will be from 3.5 per cent to 5.5 per cent.

The pair are also planning a range of specialist bottled beers which will be 10 per cent in strength and will each have a unique cartoon label.

Their first, “Madcap Liquorice” will go on sale shortly.

John is keen to give talks about his business and has a website www.madcapbrewery.com