Parish: new owners to promote cask ale

After 40 years at the helm of Parish Brewery, visionary and founder Baz Parish has decided to step back from the mash tun and pass the brewing baton over to new owners and directors Bruce Cooper and Charlie Gamble. The duo of real ale enthusiasts has created The Parish Brewing Company Ltd, which will continue trading as Parish Brewery. 

Established in 1983 in a 400-year-old converted stable block in rural East Leicestershire’s Burrough on the Hill, Parish Brewery, was the first microbrewery in the area and now has a 20-barrel plant brewing over 5,000 pints per brew. 

Its beers, available in cask, beer box and bottle, include Parish Special Bitter 3.9 % alcohol by volume (ABV), Proper Charlie 3.9% ABV, Burrough Bitter 4.8% ABV, and Baz’s Bonce Blower 12% ABV. All ales are brewed using traditional brewing methods and using only the finest British malted barley, English hops, yeast and water. 

Bruce Cooper, one of the new owners of the Parish Brewery commented: “We’ve been advocates of Baz and his brewing prowess for many years, so when he mentioned wanting to take a step back, we saw an opportunity to carry on his legacy. 

“There is huge mileage and heritage in the products and we are seeing a renaissance in cask conditioned beer. In recent times, cask is being better understood and generating a wider following. It has no CO₂ added, it’s not pasteurised, not filtered and a wonderful ‘live’ product until it’s served. In fact, cask beer is the freshest product on the bar. Well looked after, there’s nothing quite like a pint of real ale. As people understand it more, there is a genuine appreciation of the process. We’re excited about bringing the Parish Brewery into 2023 and have some exciting plans for the future.” 

In the coming months new brews are planned to expand its cask conditioned beer portfolio, plus Parish Brewery will be rolling out a fresh new look to enhance customer experience and capture the essence of their exceptional brews. In addition, a new ecommerce website is in development to enable customers to explore the range and buy beers online. 

Specifically for trade customers, new electronic invoicing formats will be introduced with online ordering and a credit and debit card facilities. 

As well as the many beer festival awards gathered over the years, in 1994, Parish Brewery was recognised by the Guinness Book of Records for having brewed the world’s strongest beer at that time, ‘Baz’s Super Brew’ at super strength 23% ABV. 

Founder Baz Parish will remain involved in a consultancy capacity. 

For more information on the Parish Brewery range, visit: https://parishbrewery.co.uk/.

Pictured: left to right, Bruce Cooper, Baz Parish and Charlie Gamble.