Britain's Most Scenic Counties stars Four Priests Brewery

On Friday, October 17, Four Priests Brewery on Finney’s Lane took centre stage on a new Channel 5 show, Britain’s Most Scenic Counties: Cheshire.  

The producers followed owner and brewer Andy Thomason’s journey to develop a beery tribute to a much-loved stalwart of Middlewich’s craft ale scene, Liam Bridle, who died suddenly in June 2023.

Andy told producers Liam, beer enthusiast and manager of The Beer Emporium in Sandbach, was 'a lovely bloke, and very well liked'.

Drama was injected into the programme as Andy had entered Liam’s tribute beer, called Ginger Beer’d, into Middlewich Beer Festival, where drinkers are invited to choose their favourite tipple to select a champion beer of the festival.

But with 28 casks, three kegs, four gins, and five ciders, there was stiff competition for the drinkers’ attention.

Local beer connoisseur, Liam Bridle, died suddenly in 2023, and Andy's festival beer, Ginger Beer'd, is a fitting tribute to him(Image: Supplied)

Viewers had been treated to a glimpse of Andy’s brewing process, which includes mashing malted barley in warm water before siphoning off the liquor, known as wort, which is then boiled rapidly for an hour with hops.

So far, so standard, but Liam’s beer departs with the infusion of grated fresh ginger into brew.

Later, at the beer festival itself, Andy said: “There is such a good collection of beers here, I keep watching people to see which handle is being pulled.

"Is it ours?

“To win something would be great as it’s a statement from the community that we’re part of it, and they love us.”

After the votes were counted, Ginger Beer’d was indeed crowned champion beer of the festival, winning ‘by miles’ according to a festival organiser.

For Andy Thomason, brewing beer started out as a hobby, but now it is a full-time occupation(Image: Channel 5)

Andy added: “To know the drinkers there tried it, liked it, and selected it, really means a lot.

“Being able to tell Liam’s story, and raising a glass to him, was a win in itself.

“We’d better start brewing it again, I think."

Earlier in the programme, Andy, who started out as a home brewer, shared his story of setting up Four Priests Brewery, which happened ‘completely by chance’.

He said: “You always have this home brewers dream. You think, maybe one day I can do this professionally.

“There was a pub closing down, and the guy who bought it discovered there was a commercial brewery in one of the back rooms.

“He needed the space.

“We decommissioned his brewery, put it in the back of the truck, and off we went.”

Andy’s wife Sarah said: “He was hoping to put it down the side of our house, or in the house, and I said ‘no’.

Andy now opens the brewery to the public most weekends in the summer months in the form of a taproom, where punters get to enjoy his beer while milling around his mash tuns and fermentation vessels.

He added: “Brewing is one thing, but what we’ve created here [with the taproom] has added something  of value to the community.

“People came in for a look when we first opened, but every time we open now, they’re here.

“They’ve become friends.”