Burton Bridge Brewery, also home to Heritage Brewing, has secured a grant to purchase a fermentation/conditioning tank specifically designed for keg beer production.
The PIPP Innovation Grant comes from East Staffordshire Borough Council, introduced through the Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce.
When Burton Bridge Brewery was founded, the original owners had planned to develop a lager, but the project never made
it to fruition due to limited capacity and equipment constraints.
With the arrival of the new tank, the brewery will finally be able to explore lager production, as well as broaden its overall range of keg beers. It will also open up flexibility for brewing new styles of cask beer, with the shape of the tank making it suitable for dry-hopping and fruit and spice additions, while maintaining the clarity of the beer.
“Securing this grant allows us to take a significant step forward,” said brewery manager Emma Cole. “Keg production opens the door to new styles we’ve wanted to brew for years, and different venues specialise in keg beer.
“It also means we can supply a wider variety of our own beers to the Burton Bridge Inn, giving customers even more choice from a brewery that is extremely passionate about helping keep Burton’s reputation as a great beer town.”
The PIPP Innovation Grant programme supports local businesses in developing new products, improving processes, and driving growth. For Burton Bridge and Heritage Brewing, the funding supports both tradition and innovation — strengthening Burton’s brewing heritage while enabling new avenues for experimentation.
The new tank has just arrived and is being plumbed in. “The first beer that goes in the tank will be a cask beer,” said head brewer Al Wall.
“As this new tank is a cylindro-conical vessel, it will allow us to navigate new waters for Burton Bridge by looking at vessel dry-hopping and also different yeast strains. After we feel comfortable with the new tank, we will set our sights on kegged produce, both ales and lagers.”
The tank came from Spey Valley Brewery, in Keith, and was shipped via local Burton company, H Young Transport.
Founded in 1982, Burton Bridge Brewery merged with Heritage Brewing last year. They recreate classic beer recipes using historic methods, alongside modern brews.
