If this week has shown one thing, it is that there is still a lot of pride in Burton regarding it’s brewing history. If you are reading this you will know this is a subject very close to my heart, unsurprisingly I have taken the news of the closure of the National Brewery Centre hard. I’m angry, I’ll even admit I’ve even lost sleep over this.
Although some of the reaction has been fueled by shameless political point scoring, Molson Coors could never have anticipated a backlash of this magnitude.
Keep your hands off our history!
The message is clear, the National Brewery Centre must stay open.
If Molson Coors are foolhardy enough to defy public opinion, then a replacement facility must be found quickly for the artefacts, vehicles and the beautiful horses that call the National Brewery Centre home.
I don’t think for a minute that the archive is in danger of being binned (as one scaremonger has suggested), I have total faith in Dr Harry White and the team at the National Brewery Heritage Trust that it will be looked after with the respect and care such a priceless collection deserves, although no doubt given the option, they’d be happier for the material to stay put. The proposed Bass House solution is the great unknown and I can’t see it being as good as the current facilities at the National Brewery Centre.
The loss of the Heritage Brewing Company will be keenly felt by beer drinkers, personally I am particularly fond of their Masterpiece and P2 Stout. The brewery has changed hands and names a few times in the last 40 odd years, it’s been known as the Museum Brewery and the White Shield Brewery. It doesn’t deserve such a cruel and sudden end; the beers are too good for that.
Another victim is the on-site pub The Brewery Tap which has been part of The Burton Ale Trail since its inception; it has been an integral part in the event’s success and future trails will feel that loss. It has been a pleasure to work with Sarah Tooley and her team, their enthusiasm will be greatly missed.
I don’t know what else to say really, this is awful moment for the town brought about by a company who really should be protecting and promoting history, not destroying it.
Would it be possible to get support also from outside Burton, to widen this to a national outcry. Get support of any kind from as many independent brewers as possible. Would CAMRA and it’s members lobby. If we could get national coverage this might make the powers that be think again.