Spinning Dog Brewery

Spinning Dog Brewery, 88 St Owen Street, Hereford HR1 2QD

Tel (01432) 274998, Fax (01432) 342125; Website www.spinningdogbrewery.co.uk

Following the success of the Jolly Roger brewpub in Worcester, a similar operation was set up in Hereford in 1990. This involved refurbishing the Bricklayers Arms with a bar in the shape of a galleon and installing a small brewing plant at the rear. By 1994, the Jolly Roger company retreated to Worcester, the pub was sold to Wye Valley and the brewery was dismantled. The nautical theme was retained and the pub became the Victory.

In 1999, the Victory was bought by Jim Kenyon, brother of Paul Kenyon of Flannery's in Aberystwyth. The following year the brewery was re-equipped and, in recognition of the frequent gyratory antics of the pub dog, Cassie, was named the Spinning Dog Brewery. In July 2002, the brewing capacity was expanded to 10 barrels, by installing vessels from the now-closed Flannery's, and the brewery has been refurbished. Some of Flannery's beers have been integrated into the Spinning Dog range.

The brewery serves the pub and an increasing number of free trade outlets, including Wetherspoons. Deliveries are weekly in the local area and two- or four-weekly countrywide and the beers are also distributed by Beer Seller and East West Ales.

Celtic Gold was runner up in the Peoples Pint 2001 at St Alban's Beerfest. Greater success followed when Mutley's Pitstop was voted best speciality beer (2003) by the South West region of SIBA and went on to win the same class at National level, also being runner-up overall. In 2006, Mutley's Revenge won gold in the Premium Bitter class of the West Midlands Beer of the Year, and bronze overall.