Nethergate Brewery Tap + Brewery Tour!

Based in the Stour Valley region, which I now know is the divider between Suffolk and Essex, is Nethergate Brewery. Nethergate are a brewery that I feel like I’ve grown up with, during my near ten year (legal) drinking life. Their beers including Stout Valley Gold, Suffolk County and Umbel Ale have been favourites of mine for a long time. I’ve probably drank hundreds of pints of Nethergate beer, mostly in the Live:

But despite the brewery being sort of nearby I hadn’t been, until now. The brewery tour was a late birthday present for my dad, and finally we found a day to go and do it!

We were warmly welcomed into the taproom and given our first halves of beer, Suffolk County. A chestnut coloured malty and bitter beer, despite the heat it went down a treat. We then met the other people on the tour, total group size was five and headed for a chat about the history of Nethergate Brewery and brewing itself. Our guide, whose name I’ve forgotten already, was knowledgable and concise with the way she delivered the history lesson. I was really impressed with the way complicated things, the brewing process, were explained with such ease. We then headed into the brewery.

I hope that this isn’t a weird thing to say, but I do love smelling the fermentation tanks. Does that make me sound like a fermentation tank pervert?

It was very hot in the brewery, so I was happy to get back to the taproom for some refreshments.

A half of each ale is included in the tour. They were all in perfect condition, except Old Growler, which is the only negative thing I can say about this experience. The Old Growler smelt acidic and had an acidic, pear like taste.. Our tour guide was no where to be see, so I couldn’t ask them. The beer was changed for a different one.

That was a small blip in what was otherwise a really good afternoon out. I highly recommend the brewery tour and place it amongst the best brewery tours I’ve done. The taproom is excellent and I look forward to returning.

Thanks for reading!

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