BREWING UP A TREAT

A redundant mushroom shed was the humble beginning for a Maidstonebased micro brewer five years ago. But now family-owned Musket Brewery in Loddington Farm, Linton, has marked the anniversary by opening its own bar - The Armoury - offering some soughtafter real ales.

The new operation, which has been opened in a purpose built building, was officially blessed by Rev. Phil Goodey of St. Peter’s Church, Boughton Monchelsea, and officially opened by the landlord of Loddington Farm, James Smith, with his son Theodore, representing the fifth and sixth generations of the Smith family farming the site (pictured above). Founder and co-owner Tony Williams said: “It’s been a real roller-coaster ride over the past five years and unfortunate delays in the installation of the new brew plant, has meant that my son Rhys and I have needed to work six to seven day weeks since mid-march, simply to meet customer demands for our beers.

“However, with the opening of The Armoury and plans to complete the brewery installation in hand, we are confident that Musket Brewery will continue to grow from strength to strength.”

The pair are also members of the Maidstone and Mid Kent CAMRA branch. The brewery also received a grant from Kent County Council for the equipment in the building, which is a few yards from the original site.

The brewery supplies its real ales to more than 375 pubs, clubs and micro pubs across the county, from the Thirsty Pig in Maidstone to the Sussex Arms in Tunbridge wells and the Bell and Jorrocks in Frittenden to the Man of Kent in Rochester.

The brewery will be opening the Armoury Bar every week on Fridays between 4pm and 10pm and on Saturdays between 11am and 10pm. To find out more, go to musketbrewery.co.uk