Last orders for brewer ... and now final stocks to be sold
AN award-winning brewery that started creating its beers on the outskirts of Ashbourne is to cease trading after 14 years in business.
Derventio Brewery, which opened in March 2006 in Sutton-on-the-hill, has gone into voluntary liquidation as remaining stock is sold off.
Owners John Baldock and Pete Nash have announced on the brewery’s Facebook page that they are retiring and are closing the business - which moved to Darley Abbey in 2011.
Named after a Roman fort by the same name in Little Chester, Derventio was home to the apricot flavoured awarding-winning Cleopatra beer, which took gold in the Society of Independent Brewer Midlands Region Beer Competition in 2010.
On their website, John and Pete said: “We have had some great support and would like to thank those who have been there for us and are proud of our achievements.”
Customers were quick to express their sadness at the closure on social media.
One woman said: “Thank you Pete and John for all the beers over the years, so very sad to hear this news. Your beers are the best.”
Another person said: “Cleo and Barbarian are two of the finest beers I’ve ever tasted. So sad to think I’ll never get to drink them again.”
John and Pete worked for British Rail before they began brewing together in March 2006. The brewery invited one of its biggest local fans, famous cartoonist Bill Tidy, to its ceremonial launch event at its farm base in Trusley - a stone’s-throw from Mr Tidy’s house in Boylestone.
They offered tours of the brewery, meet the brewer days, and saw their beers sold in pubs across the country and national supermarket chain the Co-operative.
Derventio was also a regular sight in the food marquee at Ashbourne Show.
The Derby Telegraph’s beer columnist Colston Crawford was a fan of Derventio and will miss their ales.
He said: “They made their mark, with some brilliant artwork and some very good beers.
“Nothing topped their apricot-infused bitter, Cleopatra, in terms of impact and comment. These days, modern brewers fall over themselves to add many different flavourings to beers but Derventio did it before it was trendy and, unlike one or two too many of the modern brewers, did it with subtlety.
“John and Pete were passionate, knowledgeable gave it a good go and I’m sure they will enjoy their retirement.”
Derventio are selling their remaining stock in 5, 10 and 20-litre packages and can be contacted via their Facebook page.