Last Thursday 27th March, everyone was gathered at West Suffolk Branch Chairman's, Kevin Waterson's house ready to be picked up by Billy who had offered to drive the mini bus(well driven Billy) to Woodfordes Brewery in Norfolk. 13 merry folk (well after a few pints who wouldn't be) enjoyed a detailed tour and history of the brewery conducted by David Crease and Jim McGregor. The brewery was started in 1981 in Drayton near Norwich but by 1989 had moved to larger(and later extended) premises where it still is in Woodbastwick. The head brewer, Bruce Ash has been with the company since he was 16 years old and is helped by four other brewers. Woodfordes brew eight different beers at any time and take samples of each batch to make sure of its quality and that it lasts as long as it should do. These include Wherry, Nelson's Revenge, Sundew, Headcracker, Norfolk Nog, Admiral's Reserve and of course not forgetting their wonderful Mardler's Mild.

We were all shown round the brewery and every stage of the process was explained from the cleaning of the barrels, choosing the barley and hops to filling the cleaned barrels, not forgetting to add finings and labels at the end.After the tour everyone enjoyed some fine food and sampled several of their beers at the Fir and Feathers public house next to the brewery.

On the way home we stopped at The Angel at Larling for a swift half or four of which they had on tap Adnams Bitter, Great Oakley Wats Occurin, Fullers London Pride and Nethergate Priory Mild.

Everyone agreed it was a grand tour and thanks go to Col Burgess for organising it and Billy for an excellent drive.

Sally Waterson

Branch Secretary