Micro-brewery is promising a taste of Paradise in Hayle

REAL ALE lovers visiting Penwith will be a step closer to Paradise when the director of a wildlife park breathes fresh life into a micro-brewery started in the late 1970s by his father.

Nick Reynolds, director of Paradise Park and a committed ale enthusiast, has taken over the running of the attraction's Bird in Hand pub and plans to revive its two signature ales, Paradise Bitter and Artist Ale.

Nick, who has inherited much of his advertising executive father's innovative and anarchic spirit, has assembled a passionate and determined team of brewers who plan to tour the festivals this time next year.

"There is nothing more satisfying than being behind the bar and pulling a pint of ale which you have brewed yourself and I am really keen to get back into it," he said.

Back to basics

"We are going back to basics with the recipe book out and will start off with the original brews and then take it from there."

The outbuildings behind the pub – working stables up until its conversion – which house the mash tuns, hot liquor and fermentation tanks, are in need of renovation after seven years out of action.

But with electricians busy rewiring last week the team are confident they will be back in business with the first brew expected within weeks.

Noah Clark, who will be brewing the beers, explains the attraction of real ales in plain and simple terms: "It is wholesome and good for you."

He hopes the venture will take advantage of the recent popularity in ale, which has surged despite the closure of thousands of pubs across the UK: "It's all about the flavour and the great variation in ales is an important part of our heritage," he said.

"A lot of people just see a brown liquid but I have surprised a lot people and even converted a few.

"You open a barrel and it only lasts for a week – that tells you all you need to know about the quality."

With each brew producing five and a half barrels – equivalent to around 1,500 pints – each week, Nick hopes to introduce aficionados further up the line to the delights of Hayle-brewed ale.

The drinks suppliers, Jolly's, held a meeting last week at which they attempted to create a buying and selling group of small micro-breweries which would see lesser-known beers guesting in pubs outside the county.

"The big problem is that so many pubs are controlled by big companies who do not allow guest beers," added Nick.

And with inspectors expected to award the coveted Cask Marque, toe-tapping live trad Jazz and Premier League football soon to be projected onto the big screen the business looks set for a much-needed out-of season income.

Rebecca Quick, manager of the pub, says interest is 'growing and growing' after they put on 50 different ales already this year.

"We can't wait for the brewery to be up and running and everybody is really excited," she said.

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