Herefordshire and Worcestershire’s Finest
Number 1: The Hop Shed - Brewers of craft beer in Suckley.
We like to offer our customers at The Glasshouse Café the finest selection of food and drinks that Herefordshire and Worcestershire have to offer - including our local beers. And craft brewing has become a bit of a specialism in this area, because this part of Worcestershire has always been famous for its hops and the history of brewing. Hops are still grown on the Holloways family farm, and our showrooms are converted hop kilns and the surrounding farm buildings of a typical Worcestershire hop-growing farm. This is the story of the newest microbrewery that has sprung up, not more than a mile from here. And very welcome they are too!
The The Hop Shed came to life when its owners, who had been married for nearly 20 years, decided it was time to stop pursuing their separate careers and start working together. Their dream was to create a quality product that they were both passionate about. The Unity Brew House they have created not only brings great ingredients together, but also connects like-minded people through a love of fine ales.
SARAH THE BREWER
Sarah is the Brewer and, when not creating great beers, she makes sure the brewery team and its beers meet the public at various food and drink events. Sarah began as a home-brewer and then, as her hobby became a passion, she left her former career as a teacher and re-trained in the art of brewing at Brew Lab in Sunderland. She worked at a handful of larger breweries to hone her skills before setting up The Unity Brew House, now known as The Hop Shed. Sarah says “We are proud to use only English hops and the finest British ingredients, to produce delicious, notable beers.”
HANI THE MANAGER AND CHIEF TASTER
Hani uses his management experience to ensure that they are heading in the right direction. He also helps Sarah by providing ‘constructive’ criticism on the latest brews. A job he loves. Before moving to Worcestershire, Hani worked in Canary Wharf, as a manager at the Financial Conduct Authority. “What a contrast!” he thinks, as he drives his delivery van full of the amber nectar around the county. “The vast majority of the hops we use are grown and processed just a few metres away from where our brewery is located. Step out of the brewery door and you can see the hop yards!” says Hani proudly.
THE HOPS
The Hop Shed only brew beer using British hops and the vast majority are grown here in Suckley on Stocks Farm, one of the UK's leading hop producers. They have fantastic flavours and aromas and great old names - First Gold, Phoenix, Endeavour, Pilgrim, Bramling Cross and Goldings. The names Sarah chooses for her brews are all breeds of chicken.
HISTORY OF BREWING IN WORCESTERSHIRE
The present day method of growing hops, by supporting the growing bine from a lattice of wirework, was introduced by two Worcestershire growers as long ago as 1865. A kiln patented by another Worcester grower before 1880 left a higher percentage of ‘oil, resin and bitter principle’ in the hops than was customary at the time.
In 1922 the first hop-picking machine to be used in this country was imported from America by a Worcester grower. Machine picking was not to become widely practiced until the 1950s as the American machines were not suited to conditions in England — and hand pickers were still available. However, when the change came, it was the West Midland growers who led the way. The first British-made picking machine was produced in Martley, Worcestershire, in 1934 and the main machine, the Bruff hop-picking machine, was manufactured here in Suckley.
All that local history and hop flavour is locked into the delicious brews of The Hop Shed. You can taste them for yourself when you next visit The Glasshouse Café. Enjoy a glass of Frizzle IPA or Sebright Golden Ale with your lunch. The motto ‘Enjoying Beer Together’ perfectly captures their philosophy of fine beer and good friends. Cheers!
Our current Drinks menu features:
Frizzle British IPA (Suckley). Tasting notes: golden in colour with a fruity, floral hop aroma.
Sebright Golden Ale (Suckley). Tasting notes: a straw-coloured ale with fruity hop aromas.
