Size and Scope
BFB Ltd is purposely small-scale, focusing on quality over quantity. Each beer is hand made using the best natural ingredients, locally sourced whenever possible. Brewing on an extremely small scale is expensive and requires us to educate and sell directly to the consumer. On this small scale selling to pubs and restaurants would not be practical or profitable. We will also brew for (off site) weddings and events.
We have purchased a 300-litre brewery with three fermentation vessels. Our kit will allow us to brew up to six batches per month and when operating at full capacity we will produce between 300 and 500 litres per week.
The majority of our beer will be sold for private catering events (weddings, birthdays, etc.), pop ups (village fetes, farm shows, beer festivals, etc.), and online sales. It is our hope to sell as much as 40% of our beer directly from the Tasting Room on site with the brewery. On site sales will be in the form of fresh draft beer by the taster and by the glass, and for off sales: 1 and 2-litre growler refills and 440-ml cans.
We would hope to attract 10 - 15 guests on a Friday and the same for a Saturday evening. Guests will be encouraged to walk or cycle to the Farm.
Community
Another guiding principle is to work with the community to support various causes and local charities and be a welcome place for all. We will continue to participate in local events (Amport-Monxton Village Fete, and Jazz in the Garden in Upper Clatford). Part of the brewery building will be set up as a small tasting area and some of that space (< 6m x 6m) will be available for community use when not in use by the brewery. The brewery and tasting area will have disabled access and the farm’s toilet block will have a WC for disabled use.
We will work hard to be good neighbours and to instil in staff and guests a culture of giving back and protecting what we have. Good neighbour signage will be on site and in brewery promotional materials. An example of our cultural messaging would be: Please help us be good neighbours and keep this farm beautiful. Always leave quietly. If you drive, drive slowly. Please clean up after yourself and your neighbour by picking up any litter you may find. Thank you!
Leisure, Health and Wellbeing
“… support the promotion of a healthy lifestyle… including the promotion of walking and cycling.” Our mission statement was designed with a rural location in mind. Haydown Farm, surrounded by small villages and with footpaths and rights of way converging on site, is an ideal home. Walkers from Amport, East Cholderton, and parts of Quarley can reach the farm in under 10 minutes. Those from Monxton, Thruxton, Weyhill, and Kimpton are only slightly further by foot and under 10 minutes cycling.
Our guests will be encouraged to walk, hike, or cycle to the farm and everyone will be welcome to use the brewery as a starting or finishing point, or just a convenient stop. There will be casual seating, securable bike storage, and hiking maps showing 5K and 10K loops will be on display. BFB Ltd would support a weekly meet-up for runners and walkers and offer a form of green credit for those who leave cars at home and walk or cycle to the brewery.
The tasting area will be dog friendly and BFB Ltd is happy to contribute to the maintenance of local footpaths.
Protect, Conserve, and Enhance the Landscape Character of the Farm and Village
The area of the farm in front of the brewery and adjacent to the main footpath is being beautified. In addition to site clean-up, the building will get roof repairs, new doors, and fresh paint to match other buildings on the Farm. The area in front of the brewery will have new landscaping to include grass, trees and flowers, and the main farm track up to the brewery is being repaired/re-graded to be more cycle and pram friendly. For those who choose to drive parking will be available to the rear of the grain store out of sight to the brewery and main footpath and sound protected by berms and hedgerows. There will be parking for blue badge holders.
Employment Site in the Countryside
Breach Farm Brewing Ltd will be a local employment site. The initial operation will have one full-time and possibly one part-time worker. When operating at capacity the brewery could require two full-time and up to four part-time workers.
Tourism
The brewery would also help support the tourist economy. Numerous homes in the area offer guest accommodations and the planned fifty-room leisure hotel at the former Amport House is just an eight-minute walk from Haydown Farm. Breweries are a desirable attraction when planning a holiday getaway and BFB Ltd will be a welcoming place for locals and tourists alike. We will be offering brewery tours, guided beer tastings, brew-day experiences, and craft beer for on-site tasting and off-premises consumption.
Education and Learning
Part of our mission statement is “to champion craft beer through education, exposure, and experience.” Brewery tours would offer an introduction to the equipment and process of making craft beer. Guided tastings would educate guests on beer styles, ingredients, and food pairing. The brew-day experience would be a hands-on dive into professional, small-batch brewing. BFB Ltd will also support the brewing community, (home and craft brewers), by providing a place for guild meetings and help with continuing education.