Theakston invest to reach record capacity

Picture James Hardisty.
&R Theakston Ltd, The Brewery, Masham, North Yorkshire. Pictured Simon Theakston, Executive Director of Theakston Brewery. — Picture James Hardisty. &R Theakston Ltd, The Brewery, Masham, North Yorkshire. Pictured Simon Theakston, Executive Director of Theakston Brewery.

The Masham-based brewer has installed an additional multi-role vessel at T&R Theakston, which will enable the family-owned firm to brew greater quantities and varieties of its cask ales, seasonal offerings and new craft keg range in their famous Victorian brewery.

This is the latest stage in a decade long capital investment programme providing the company with a combination of greater capacity and flexibility, improved efficiency and the enhancement of the authentic brewing vessels.

Made by Leeds-based PPF Ltd, the stainless steel container will be used for a variety of different processes including fermenting, conditioning and storage.

T&R Theakston executive director Simon Theakston said: “Thanks to growing demand for our products, both at home and abroad, we are brewing more beer in our brewery in Masham than ever in our 190-year history.

“The installation of this vessel will give us significant extra overall capacity and also the flexibility to brew an even greater range of both our permanently available and specialist cask and keg brands.

“Previous investment at our brewery has included renewing chilling equipment, replacing pipework and installing new conditioning tanks and cold filtration units, all done to support the original brewing vessels still in every-day use.

“The renaissance of cask-conditioned and modern craft ales has given our superb brewing team a golden opportunity to experiment with different hops and malts from the UK and indeed from throughout the world.

“In turn, this has allowed us to significantly expand our range of beers, and introduce new lines which have quickly established themselves as firm favourites with cask and craft ale aficionados.”

Theakston has been brewing beer in the Yorkshire Dales since 1827 and is controlled and run by direct family descendants of the founder Robert Theakston.

The 19th century brewery building is a classic example of the traditional ‘tower’ construction and to this day still features many of its original features.