We were all looking forward to 2024, celebrating the 175th Anniversary of the Brewery. A momentous occasion, and it hardly seemed a quarter of a century since the last big celebration! The year did not go as we thought, but as ever, there are more highs than lows, and our glass is always more than half full.

In January, we started the celebrations with a special brew by The Elephant and Castle, to mark 50 years of the Finch family running this fantastic pub.

February we said goodbye to Akito, who had been on placement here for six months. A talented brewer, and we hope to see him again.

March saw us brew a special beer in memory of Victoria – who would have been 50 in 2024. A 5.0% beer, blonde and with character, just like the lady it was brewed for, and it was lovely that a couple of her friends helped brew, and many more friends came to the launch on March 7th, the eve of her birthday. On March 8th, we brewed Tower Ale, a collaboration brew with Everards and Joseph Holts, who share the same birthday as us. Brigadier and Balmoral attended the National Shire Horse Show, looking resplendent and promoting the Brewery.

April we added a twist to Hooky on Tour, leaving the Land Rover here but venturing out on bicycles and shire horses. I also brewed a beer to mark my 33 years here – a 3.3% Dark Mild beer.

The 20th May is a day we won’t forget; we suffered the devastating fire in the stable block. But good execution of our emergency plans, and rapid attendance by the Fire Service meant no one was hurt, and the fire was contained. It could have been so much worse. As often is the case after such an event, the support received, both business wise and personally was humbling, and once again made us realise how lucky we are to live and work in such an amazing community. Later that week we brewed a collaboration beer with Arbor; 10p per bottle will be donated to the Firefighters Charity.

In June we brewed Hoptroplis again with Mitch Steele; one of the hoppiest beers we have ever brewed. It was also the month where we make hay for the horses’ winter feed, celebrating the crop with a glass of Haymaker.

In July we brewed another collaboration beer with our friends from DEYA brewery. Their whole team came here to brew, and much technical discussion took place afterwards in The Pear Tree garden.

August saw yet another dimension to Hooky on Tour, this time on motorbikes. From a dozen bikes on the first run, to 37 on the second, it was quite the spectacle. The month also saw the launch of Traitors Ford Whiskey, laid down eight years ago with our friends at Cotswold Distillery, a limited batch run of just 200 bottles celebrating their 10th and our 175th anniversary.

September saw the motorbikes out again, this time for an early morning run to Herefordshire, to collect some green hops, and bring them straight back and add to the brew. A sort of Beaujolais run, only better!

In October, the culmination of a huge amount of work cam to fruition when we published our book, Playing Hooky, a history of the last 175 years, not just of the Brewery, but of the wider brewing scene. Adrian Tierney-Jones did a superb job of writing the book, ably assisted by Twelve Days.

November was the delivery of the new steam boiler – a significant project to improve energy efficiency. On the 24th we suffered a flood, as did a large part of the village. The Fire Engine destined for Ukraine came into play pumping out the beer cellar.

December came around quickly. As usual, I visited all of the Hooky pubs, and it was pleasing to see pubs busy, and most reporting an increase in bookings. We also visited each fire station that had attended the fire back in May, and dropped them a case of Phoenix beer, and a thank you from us. On Boxing Day a tradition was revived, when a Brewery team played Hook Norton Football Club. We lost 4:1, but made a credible performance, with an average team age of probably double our opposition.

So not quite the year we thought, but a lot went on, and we look forward to 2025 with anticipation. There are now less than 39,000 pubs in the UK – 10 years ago there were around 50,000 pubs. So, when you fancy a beer, pop to your local, ask for a glass of cask ale, raise it, and smile!

Cheers to 2025. James