Popular brewery nominated for awards

A popular Windsor brewery has been nominated for two national business awards, just months since opening to the public, writes Anaka Nair.

Indie Rabble, based in The Arches, has been recognised by the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) for Best New Independent Craft Brewery and Best Collaboration.

The awarding body is the largest trade association in the UK representing the independent brewing industry with around 900 members.

Co-owner Dave Hayward told the Express: “We’re really proud of the nominations because it’s a large national award so there’s a lot of competition in the categories.

“Hopefully, it shows that Windsor is doing something quite big at the moment and here’s hoping for a good result.”

Indie Rabble has only been selling its range of craft beers since late October

2023, and Dave doesn’t believe there’s ‘one thing’ that sets them apart from the competition.

He said: “I’d like to think it’s the branding, the overall package and also the individual directives and what we want the brewery to be.

“We focus on the community so we’re always talking about the Windsor Beer Mile and trying to get people to come to Windsor because there are now three breweries within 400 yards.

“We’re also event-focused and want people to come to us and have an experience – it's not just about the beer, although the beer is very good, the branding is great and the taproom is good.

“We’re putting on interesting events and we’re trying to market Windsor in the wider community.

“I think it’s what we’re trying to do here that’s recognised by SIBA.

“We’re not just another of the very large number of breweries producing beer – what differentiates us is that yes, the beer has to be good to even be in the conversation, but it’s the other stuff we’ve been doing that’s been noticed.”

Dave and his wife, Naomi are co-owners of The Hoppy Place in Windsor and Maidenhead and joined forces with their friends, Alex Rowlands and Alison Steele to open Indie Rabble to the public in late August 2023.

“We opened when we did because we knew we wanted it to be a Windsor business and the Arches were being renovated for let and it was like ‘If we don’t go now, they’re ten years leases, they’re going to go to someone else. So in the end, it was stuff it, let’s go for it," Dave said.

At first, the brewery exclusively sold its collaboration beers.

According to SIBA, the 'collaboration' award highlights those which ‘amplify the reach of the businesses involved, appeal to new audiences, or create a commercial success’ while the second award highlights the year’s most ‘exciting and successful new brewery’.

The winner will be announced at BeerX 2024 in Liverpool on March 13.

Dave said he ‘hopes’ this national recognition not only benefits Indie Rabble but all Windsor breweries.

He added: “We’ve spoken to Two Flints and Windsor & Eton Brewery and we’re all fully on the same page. We all want some beer tourism.

"Everyone comes to Windsor for the castle – we should be coming to

Windsor because there are three fantastic breweries within minutes of each other.”