We’re not going to get all evangelical about this, but we’re serious about living up to our values: responsibility; quality; collaboration; and fun.
And when we do things that combine them, even better, especially when one of them is FUN.
Our taproom has been a great success this year, but it’s a fact that not everyone likes beer, even when it’s ours. So, we set out to add to our range by sourcing wine and cider from local producers. Step forward Poulton Hill Estate and Mates Cider, both based just a few miles from CLB HQ.
These collaborations have worked really well, and it’s been great to be able to offer our customers choices that are benefiting other local businesses.
But there’s more to these collaborations. When the call came for help with the harvest, Team CLB was standing by.
Grape-picking is one of those bucket-list things. Admittedly, we probably had the vineyards of California or the South of France in mind. But undeterred, two CLB team members spent a couple of days with a bunch (see what we did there?) of other volunteers, working our way along rows and rows of vines to help our friends at Poulton Hill bring in the harvest.
Our reward was an epic lunch and plenty of wine to wash it down. Great fun.
Prepping cider apples is more about shovels than secateurs. But a few weeks later, Team CLB was at it again, helping the guys at Mates Cider wash, chop and crush about two tonnes of apples in a day. That lot would go on to make 900 litres of cider.
There was a lot more to do, but our help was really appreciated. A few freebie bottles ensured that everyone slept well after the day’s exertions.
