Grain Brewery

Grain Brewery began in 2006 when Geoff Wright and Phil Halls established a brewery in a converted dairy at South Farm in Alburgh. Surrounded by the fields and quiet lanes of the Waveney Valley, the rural Norfolk setting gave Grain a distinctive home from the outset, far removed from the industrial estates occupied by many modern breweries.

As demand for its beers grew, so did the brewhouse. In 2012 Grain upgraded to an 18-barrel brewing plant, giving it considerably greater capacity while remaining at South Farm. From there the brewery developed a range spanning traditional cask ale and lagered keg beer, while the business also expanded beyond the brewery itself with pubs including The Plough in Norwich and The Spread Eagle in Ipswich.

South Farm has become much more than simply the place where Grain makes its beer. The brewery's Taproom sits at the heart of the site and opens every Friday and Saturday, giving drinkers the chance to work through Grain's range only metres from where it is brewed. New beers often make their first appearance here, while tasting flights offer an introduction to several Grain beers in one visit.

The Taproom has also developed into a regular gathering place in its own right. Grain hosts visiting street-food traders, acoustic music and a calendar of larger celebrations throughout the year. Events range from the Blessing of the Barley Queen and Grain Fest to summer parties, the Hop Harvest Party, Late Oktober Fest and Belgian Beer Day, connecting the brewery's rural surroundings and ingredients with the social side of beer.

Visitors who want to look beyond the bar can join one of Grain's brewery tours. These explain the journey from mashing through to the finished beer, including the differences between cask ale and lagered keg beer, with the possibility of tasting beer directly from a tank when the brewing schedule allows. The brewery's countryside location also lends itself to making a longer visit of it, with farm stays, shepherd's huts, glamping and restored railway-carriage accommodation within walking distance.

Nearly two decades after brewing began in a converted dairy, Grain remains closely tied to South Farm and the Waveney Valley. Brewing, drinking and events all come together at the same rural site, making the brewery not simply a producer of Norfolk beer but a destination where visitors can experience the beer at its source.