A mighty Monster

“At the end of 2013 I realised that I needed to shake up the status quo. I needed a different direction,” he said.

He sold his first bottle of beer in December 2014. Two years later his one-man approach has seen him brewing, delivering his beers, designing labels and artwork and living the ale-maker’s dream.

Crowdfunding the brewery gave him the freedom to meet his ambitions.

“I have not been blessed with a big windfall or inheritance. It’s always been a shoestring operation. I raised £7,000, which was sufficient to give me enough to start the upscale. I found premises in Holmebridge. To be able to say I’m based here helps me sell beer. I’m now in the throes of the installation.”

Previously working on a one-barrel system, Doug expects his expansion will jump to six barrels. His approach, he says, is softly-softly.

“When I get to the point when I can shift six barrels in a week I will get a second fermenter and start doubling up. I don’t have a desire to take over the world but to get to a point where I have something I could potentially retire with.”

He says the New Year will see more of the same – his trademark is full-bodied, heavily hopped ales, with a core range called ‘The Furies’ – plus “the odd unique beer or the first batch of a recipe I am trying to develop”. He also brews a ‘Cyclops’ range of ales made with one hop variety.

“Most brewers tend to brew stuff that’s quite distinctive. It’s a vibrant, creative craft. I have not met anyone in the brewing community who is not completely lovely and welcoming.

“There’s not a lot of toe-treading, so there is room in the market.”