Small town on big beer - Real Ale Shop

Jeff Pickthall visits Keswick, one of North East England’s best beer hot spots.

The 700-year-old market town of Keswick is in the northern Lake District between Bassenthwaite Lake and Derwent Water. It is overlooked by fells which seem to change colour according to the weather and time of day. The town’s indigenous population of 5,000 is permanently swelled by countless Lake District tourists.

Although the name Keswick is rooted in the Old Norse ‘Cese-wic’ indicating a market for cheese, beer now seems a common theme.

Convenience store Open All Hours, which has existed for 25 years, is owned and run by Alan and Heather Dunn whose car number plate declares their real passion – “TWO 4 ALE.” Alan freely admits to being a late convert to ales: “I was a lager drinker until I was about 40. I went on a Jennings brewery tour and they don’t do a lager so I gave it a try and fell in love with Jennings Cumberland Ale overnight.” Jostling for space with more humble groceries are heaving shelves of bottled beers. The majority are from British micros and regional breweries but there is also an admirable selection of Czechs, Germans, Belgians, Polish, American and Russian beers. The British selection covers the whole of the United Kingdom with a bias toward the northern counties. Local Cumbrian breweries are well represented: the longstanding such as Jennings and micro newcomers such as the Keswick Brewery (more of which later). Dedicated branded glasses are also sold.

From the premises Alan also runs two webbased businesses: The Personal Beer Company and the Person.....

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By Jeff Pickthall

Section : Spotlight

Page number : 16