Nuneaton & Bedworth branch were invited by Broood bars (Hinckley) to attend a Meet the Brewer evening on 18th October, which was readily accepted. The brewers in question were James and Thomas from the Fownes brewery, located behind the Jolly Crispin in Upper Gornal, Dudley. James gave a potted history of the brewery, from its conception over many drinks around a roaring fire of a local tavern through the initial brews that were produced on a 30 litre plant in one of their kitchens (much to the disgust of ‘er indoors) to their eventual relocation to renovated premises at the Jolly Crispin enabling production to be increased from the 30 litre a week brew. By 2014 they had expanded capacity to 9 barrels a week (approx. 100,000 pints a year). They are proud to use home-grown raw materials wherever possible, and each beer has a Dwarfen Tale written by head brewer Thomas to accompany it.



James & Thomas were accompanied, on this occasion, by resident storyteller John Edgar who delivered impassioned renditions of such tales as Crash Ball, Goat Rider and King Korvaks Saga.