Client profiles:
Moorhouse's Brewery
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There's no comparison between lager and ale. 
Household names such as Prestige have come and gone from Burnley but Moorhouse's Brewery - home of real ale - remains. Founder William Moorhouse would be gratified to see that Burnley folk are still brewing ale from the factory he built back in 1870.
The brewery originally made mineral water and low alcohol beers for Temperance Bars throughout the North West. Moorhouse's first alcoholic beer, Premier Bitter, was introduced in only 1978. At this time the brewery produced a mere 10 barrels of beer a week and was faced with closure. But, after Burnley born businessman Bill Parkinson heard of the plight of the brewery, after enjoying a pint of Pendle Witches Brew, he decided to buy it.
Today the brewery, under 45-year-old general manager David Grant, produces 200 barrels a week. There are plans to get award winning ales like Black Cat into even more supermarkets and off licences and to open up more pubs. David says: "Today real ale is no longer the preserve of the over 50s and bearded CAMRA members. It is drunk by discerning young people, both male and female."
David himself favours a pint of Moorhouse's best selling Premier Bitter ale. Before coming to Moorhouse's he worked for the independent Manchester brewery, Wilsons. Knowing a thing a two about beer he says: "There's no comparison between lager and ale. It's like comparing water with the finest vintage wine. People are prepared to pay for a decent bottle of wine but not for a decent pint of ale."
He says ale should always be served at room temperature to bring out the flavour. "Budweiser served at 5 degrees centigrade just tastes cold and bland," he says. According to David it is the nitrogen and carbon dioxide in fizzy commercial lagers that give you the headache! Real ale is a natural product which is healthy when drunk in moderation.
Exports are increasing to America, Canada and Europe but back home in Burnley support for the brewery is surprisingly weak. "Few pubs in Burnley stock our ales. We have more recognition in Manchester, Preston and Lancaster than in Burnley."
"It is satisfying to see raw malt come in one side and casks of ale go out," says David Grant. It must also be satisfying to see turnover increasing by 14 per cent.
Having turned from a loss making business to a business with healthy profits, the future now lies in buying freehold public houses and making them cask ale show houses.
We'll drink to that!
Contact
David Grant
T: 01282 422864
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