A Restless World

In our post at the turn of the year (STATE OF THE ELUSIVE NATION), we reflected upon how we'd transformed the business in response to the pandemic and our plans for expansion. In this post, at the half way mark of 2022, we'll tell you about our year to date and how we're progressing so far against those plans. It's safe to say 2022 is proving to be even more challenging than 2021!

Back in February, we posted about cuckoo brewing at the home of our good friends Double-Barrelled (LEND ME YOUR EARS) and that proved to be incredibly helpful to us in terms of additional capacity and so far has resulted in two delicious beers in Sing You A Song and Turn Out The Light. Double-Barrelled are deservedly going from strength to strength this year and brewing at full capacity now but we are hoping to squeeze a third brew in as their schedule permits.

In terms of our own plans, we looked at a few options in terms of moving the brewery entirely and what we could reasonably achieve through reconfiguration of our existing space. We've also been very conscious of spiraling costs (our electricity unit cost TREBLED in April - ugh) and the need to maintain our cash position. We've also faced some packaging challenges due to shortages of kegs and are preparing for a summer of having to think on our feet and be flexible.

Demand remains strong across cask, keg and can and we're incredibly thankful to everyone who's bought from us in 2022, from wholesale (including export) to direct trade to webshop and tap room customers - THANK YOU ALL! In real terms, calendar year to date our sales are up 66% compared to the same period in 2021 (although 2021 of course started with a lockdown) and we remain optimistic and well placed to navigate through the current challenges.

However, it has meant a re-focus from a 'big bang' expansion in 2022 to pragmatically and judiciously looking at what we can do to maximise our space on Marino Way. To that end, we've just purchased two 20HL (10BBL) unitanks and have sold four of our existing tanks. This allows us to maintain overall capacity whilst freeing up valuable floor space to later add a third 20HL tank to take our overall cellar capacity to 90HL. This is a future-proof investment that can move with us, if and when the time comes.

Switching out four of our six tanks is a huge logistical challenge and means a short-term reduction in capacity as we aim to have the four tanks all empty within the same week and shipped out before the new ones arrive. July especially will be impacted in terms of stock availability - but we have a plan!

Those familiar with our story will know what a huge part Darron Anley and Siren Craft Brew have played in it. We never intended to be in Finchampstead but many challenges and last minute curve balls back when we were looking to secure a commercial lease on premises kind of brought us here.

I remember finding our first unit in Finchampstead on a property listings website, just after our premises in Farnborough had fallen through, and asking Darron if he'd mind us setting up on their doorstep. The support and encouragement offered then remains just as strong today and they've helped us over several speed bumps in our first six years.

However, I'd never have thought we'd be in a position to ask Darron for help with filling the hole our upcoming cellar reconfiguration work will create. For one thing, Siren's brew length is six times ours. Each brew they do would take us two weeks to rotate through our tanks. Darron pops by to chat frequently and when he came over to kindly invite us to their upcoming Time Hops festival (get on it - it looks amazing!), I half jokingly - knowing how incredibly busy they are - asked if they had space to let us cuckoo brew a batch of Pale Ale.

"Leave it with me", came the response.

Fast forward a few weeks and here we are, about to brew a scary amount of beer at one of the world's best breweries - our neighbours and biggest supporters. Eeek!

Today we're brewing a 4.5% West Coast Pale which features four of our favourite hops and will be packaged into cask, keg and can. Restless World will be available towards the end of July and we look forward to telling you more about it soon!