There's just one way to sum up a Huddersfield brewery’s latest success: “It’s Magic!”
The Magic Rock Brewing Company, based in Willow Lane, Huddersfield, has been named as a finalist of BBC Radio 4’s Food & Farming Awards 2016.
The announcement was made by Sheila Dillon, who presents BBC Radio 4’s The Food Programme. Magic Rock Brewing Company has been shortlisted in the ‘Best Drinks Producer’ category.
With a passion for beer, Magic Rock’s Richard Burhouse and head brewer Stuart Ross, bring exciting characterful beers to discerning drinkers in Huddersfield.
Brewing started in mid-2011, and has since grown into a large operation now housed close to the town centre, in premises which now feature a bespoke 4,000 sq ft Tap Room where beer fans can taste the beer as close to the source as possible.
Their selection in the finals puts the brewery up against entries from across the UK – from a much loved local retailer serving its remote community on the Outer Hebrides to a Scottish husband and wife team brewing up juices and wines from wild ingredients in Perthshire.
Mr Burhouse said: “It’s certainly an accolade.
“We have no idea who nominated us but to reach the finals there must have been more than one who recommended us.
“The organisers will be coming to film over the next few weeks and it’s likely we will feature on TV and radio in the run-up to the awards, which are in April.
“It’s so nice to be appreciated and things generally are going very well since we moved to Willow Lane.
“It was difficult at first to meet the increased production but we are now up to speed and people certainly appreciate us opening the Tap Room.
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“We are also now putting more of our brews into cans and we have some big customers like Booths supermarkets, the National Theatre and the Tate Modern”.
Sheila Dillon said: “What’s cheered me yet again going through the nominations is the evidence of thousands of young people going into the quality food business.
“A few years ago it could be written off as the Jamie Oliver effect….the appeal of the life of the sexy chef. Now, it’s way beyond that because wherever you look: bakeries, ice-cream, butchery, delis, fish curing, charcuterie, juices, soft drinks, spirits, beer, ciders…. young people are there starting new businesses, reviving old ones, and bringing new blood into established family firms.
“You’d have to be Scrooge not to feel optimistic about Britain’s food future.”
