Yorkshire’s Acorn Brewery is marking the return of its founder with the rollout of a six-strong Reboot Series, heralding a new lease of life.
Dave and Christy Hughes
The series launches as Dave Hughes again takes the helm at the nationally acclaimed Barnsley brewery. Last year, a phased sale was agreed with Manchester-based Sonas Capital, allowing Dave and co-owner Christy Hughes to step down immediately. He continued in a consultancy role for a short transition period.
Now Sonas — a business development company — has relinquished all interest, handing back control of the 25-barrel cask ale plant to the couple as sole directors, and opening a fresh chapter in its multi-award-winning story.
Dave said: “Born in 2003 as a humble 10-barrel plant in Wombwell, Acorn became successful in a highly challenging business environment.
“Now, we are set to steer the brewery once again with pride, determination, and innovation, to assure our valued suppliers, treasured trade customers, and loyal beer fans that Acorn goes forward offering the best quality cask ales and first-class service.
“While the Reboot Series brings a touch of nostalgia to revisit brews from our early days, we also promise exciting and innovative new rollouts to meet the needs of a keenly competitive market. We look forward to working with long-serving brewer Steve Bunting and the team again and thank them for their support.”
He also thanked business advisor Brian McCann, director of Shareholder Strategies Ltd, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, for assistance on the brewery sale and return to ownership. “Christy and I greatly appreciated the support of Brian in our return,” he said.
Reboot series
The first in the by-monthly Reboot Series brings Legend (4.1% ABV) — a rich red ale from 2005 — to bring in the New Year, followed by a new take on 7 Seas (4.5% ABV) from 2014, to be brewed in the red rye style.
In July, Sun Storm (4.5% ABV) arrives, a summer golden ale originally from 2008, while Christmas 2025 will welcome Noel (4.5% ABV), a ruby Christmas pudding ale, well received when first brewed in 2003.
Under Acorn’s motto of ‘Tradition with Innovation’, new brews will include Egg Cracker (4.1% ABV), a vanilla and white chocolate stout for Easter, and pale, well-hopped, 2 Little Ducks (3.4% ABV) to toast Acorn’s 22 years.
Across the years Acorn has won many top accolades for its six-strong core range, including flagship Barnsley Bitter, a traditional Yorkshire bitter, and the much-revered Old Moor Porter.
Today, Acorn has a capacity of 170 brewer’s barrels (278 hectolitres, or nearly 49,000 pints) and supplies cask-conditioned ale directly to hundreds of pubs and clubs throughout the North and Midlands, with sales further afield via wholesalers and pub companies.
The core business remains cask ale while bottled and craft keg beers are also supplied to supermarkets and bottle shops.
