Craft ale microbrewery launched by York entrepreneur

BREWERY entrepreneur Andy Herrington has launched his a craft ale microbrewery.

Having launched the Ainsty Ales brewery brand in September 2013, Mr Herrington has now set up its very own brewery at Manor Farm Buildings near York to produce the ales himself. Prior to this the brand had to ‘cuckoo brew’ its products at the local Blass Castle Brewery and Hambleton’s Brewery beforehand.

The Royal Bank of Scotland and Lombard helped fund the site, which will produce 1,080 gallons of cask ale per week to start and produce all six Ainsty Ales beers.

Ainsty Ales is the brewery behind the popular ‘Flummoxed Farmer’, ‘Wankled Waggoner’ ales and will be imminently adding ‘Ainsty Angel’ a 3.7% Pale Ale, ‘Crafty Chocolatier’ a 4.8% Chocolate-Porter, ‘Kolkata Karma’ a 5.0% IPA and ‘Moloko Mild’ a 3.9% Mild.

The brand sells to 12 Costcutter stores, as well as a loyal following in the York region.

Andy Herrington, owner of Ainsty Ales Brewery, said: “I am thrilled that the company has developed so quickly and that we have now found ourselves in the position of opening our own micro-brewery.

“Brewing started out as a hobby for me and I am so pleased that I am able to run a business I am passionate about. When setting up Ainsty Ales, I focused on developing the products and promoting the brand locally so that I knew we had a solid customer base in place before making the huge investment into our own brewery. I think this strategy has really paid off and I am confident now that the business can sustain the costs of its own brewery.

“The site has plenty of capacity to accommodate our growth and we will be able to produce double the volumes of ales we currently brew. I am really excited about the future and focussed on increasing sales throughout the country and abroad.”

Gary Butterfield, business manager at Royal Bank of Scotland, said: “Andy’s passion for his business is plain to see and it is great to work with him to support the growth of the business. He has created an excellent micro-brewery facility and I am looking forward to being a part of the firm’s expansion.”

Ainsty Ales Brewery is currently organising its third annual “Coptoberfest”, a charity beer festival in St. Giles Church Copmanthorpe, 14-15 October, to raise funds for local charities and organisations.