News From The Wood Brewery

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                                                Wistanstow Bike Show 2012

Edward Wood (right) and Wenlock Olympian Society vice-chairman Simon MacVicker (left)  launch Athletes’ Ale at the William Penny Brookes memorial in Much Wenlock, Shropshire.

HELP THE OLYMPIANS BY DRINKING WOOD'S! 

Wood's newest beer will raise funds for the Wenlock Olympian Society, the body which inspired the modern Olympic movement and which was founded by Much Wenlock resident Dr William Penny Brookes.

 W•P•B Athletes’ Ale is on sale now as both a draught and a bottled bitter and we are donating 5p for every pint or bottle sold. The beer revives our Shropshire Heroes and Legends series that at the turn of the century celebrated famous people with county roots, including evolution theorist Charles Darwin, the colonialist Clive of India and war poet Wilfred Owen.

The 4.2% ABV bitter will be available over the next 12 months at selected free houses and off-licences throughout Shropshire, the West Midlands and Mid Wales.

“With the Olympic Games on the horizon, we thought it was timely to extend the Heroes and Legends series by producing a beer to celebrate Dr Brookes’ achievements. We’re hoping it will raise a good amount for the Olympian Society,” said Edward Wood. Over the years Wood’s drinkers have raised thousands of pounds for local causes by drinking ‘donation’ beers.

 Simon MacVicker, Vice-Chairman of the Olympian Society and a keen triathlete said:  “We were delighted when Wood’s suggested that a special beer might help the Olympian Games, and W•P•B Athletes’ Ale is the result.”

BACKGROUND TO BROOKES AND THE OLYMPIANS

Born in Much Wenlock, Shropshire, in 1809, Brookes was the man behind the Wenlock Olympian Games – the annual event which was started in 1850 and which provided the inspiration for the modern day Olympic Games. The modern Olympics were first staged in Athens in 1896 after their organiser, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, was invited by Brookes to witness the Wenlock games – still staged to this day by the Olympian Society. Coubertin subsequently transferred the format to a larger, grander occasion.

In line with Brookes’ wishes, the first Wenlock Olympian Games were open to ‘every grade of man’. Athletic events were run alongside traditional games such as quoits, football and cricket. Brookes later helped form the National Olympian Association, which organised sports meetings in various cities across England. The spectacular opening ceremonies of recent Olympic Games also have their roots in the colourful opening procession of the annual Wenlock Games.

So strong is the Wenlock link with the modern Olympics that in 1994, the then president of the International Olympic Committee, Juan Antonio Samaranch, visited the town to lay a wreath at Brookes’ grave. Sadly, Brookes never saw the first modern world Olympic Games. He died a few months before they took place.

“That’s a poignant fact, but we believe the fact that the Wenlock Olympian Games is still thriving is a cause for celebration,” said Edward Wood, who was born in Much Wenlock and has notched several notable athletic achievements himself, including cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats and completing the London Marathon three times.

WE have just taken delivery of a new DAF 7.5 tonne lorry from Shrewsbury-based Greenhous to give ourselves better delivery capacity. We have bought the new vehicle comes from the same local supplier that we have used for 30 years. 

We try to buy from local sources wherever it is feasible, because doing so means the money is kept in the area and helps to stimulate the local economy. Sales are brisk and we are busy despite the economic gloom that is being talked about, so we’re glad to have the new lorry.

 The delivery comes after a series of successes for us. Wood’s Pot o’ Gold won best bitter bronze in the 2011 Small Independent Brewers’ Association finals for Wales and the West of England and Wood’s Christmas Cracker made the finals of the 2011 Heart of England Fine Foods awards.

In addition the brewery itself was a Business in the Community Awards finalist for Shropshire for its policy of donating a proportion of beer sales revenue to charities. Last year, more than £12,000 was given to Midlands Air Ambulance. Over the years, local causes to have benefited include the 2nd Longmynd Venture Scouts (organisers of the nationally-known Longmynd Hike), the Flounders Folly restoration appeal, the Mary Webb Society and the Royal British Legion. 

The photo shows Wood's MD Edward Wood (right) receiving the keys to the new lorry from Graham Waters of Greenhous.

Right Royal Ale, from The Wood Brewery, Shropshire, is available as a 4.5% ABV draught beer and as an individually numbered bottled beer of the same strength in a run of just 1,000 bottles.

The brewery is also offering a triple gift pack of a single bottle of the beer, an all-cotton tea towel and an etched-effect Wood’'s pint glass. Both the bottle and tea towel carry matching caricatures by Tony Parsons of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

 "The bottles and presentation packs are already collectors' items that are arousing a lot of interest and we are having to limit advance order numbers. We anticipate they will all go before the wedding at the end of April,"” said Edward Wood, MD of the Wood Brewery.

 Sunday 13 March 2011 

Twelve Shropshire Producers Make the Prestigious Food & Drink Diamond Award Shortlist

Twelve food and drink producers from Shropshire have been announced as finalists in this year’s HEART of ENGLAND fine foods (HEFF) Diamond Awards.

This is the fourth annual Diamond Awards from HEFF, the food group for the heart of England, which celebrates the best of local food and drink from across Staffordshire, Shropshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire and Birmingham and the Black Country.

Twelve producers have been shortlisted across the 10 product categories and in the Special Diamond Awards of GROW, INNOVATE and EXCEL along with this year’s new award, The Midcounties Co-operative Award for New Business.  The Special Diamond Awards recognise business achievement rather than a product.

More than 230 products were entered into this year’s awards in the 10 product categories of Bakery; Condiments and Preserves; Confectionery; Dairy; Desserts; Drinks; Fresh Produce; Meat, Poultry and Game; and Prepared Foods.

The Shropshire finalists are: Salop Pickle Works and The Chocolate Nest, both from Bayston Hill, Shropshire Cheese Company, Llanyblodwell, Dukeshill Ham Company Ltd, Telford, Gill’s Puddings, Market Drayton, The Wood Brewery, Craven Arms, Mid Shires Foods Ltd, near Bishops Castle, Bings Heath Smokery, near Shrewsbury, Coopers Gourmet Sausage Rolls, Shropshire Food Enterprise Centre, Shrewsbury, Wenlock Spring Water, Church Stretton, Oaklands Eggs, Telford and Mum’s Stuff, Weston under Lizard.

The winners will be revealed at the Diamond Awards Gala Dinner which will take place on Saturday 21 May 2011 at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole.  The winners of each product category will go head-to-head to win the highly coveted Special Diamond Award for TASTE which will be the final award to be presented on the night.

The evening will be hosted by BBC Midlands Today’s Suzanne Virdee and will include a mouth-watering locally sourced dinner and awards presentation to celebrate local food and drink.  Tickets to this glittering annual event are now on sale at just £65.

For more information or to book tickets contact the HEFF office on 01743 452818.

HEART of ENGLAND fine foods was formed in 1998 to promote and raise awareness of food and drink within the West Midlands.

Through an extensive programme, the organisation helps the region’s food and drink businesses to develop and create profitable and sustainable markets for their products.

Profiles and pictures of the winners of the 2010 HEFF Diamond Awards are available on request.

HEART of ENGLAND fine foods manage the Shropshire Food Enterprise Centre on behalf of owners Shropshire Council with funding from Advantage West Midlands.

Challenge effort reaps national award

The Wood Brewery this week scooped the small brewing industry’s 2010 national award for best business sponsorship with its fund-raising for the Midlands Air Ambulance.

Wood’s eventually donated a total of £12,000 to the charity. It was raised through a sponsored Land’s End to John O’Groats bike ride by MD Edward Wood to mark the brewery’s 30th and his own 60th birthdays, and also through sales of 30-60 Challenge, a beer specially brewed to mark those milestones.

Receiving the award from Nigel Gibbons of Muntons Malts, at a London ceremony staged by SIBA, the Society of Independent Brewers, Edward said: “We’ve been donating money to local charities through special beers for many years so it’s recognition for all the staff at the brewery who work on these beers. The extra effort of the bike ride boosted the total to a significantly larger amount than anything we have done previously and of course we’re delighted.”

Awards judges praised Wood's for its achievement. SIBA chief executive Julian Grocock said, “The number and standard of entries to our Brewing Business Awards has grown every year since they were launched in 2006, reflecting the growing professionalism and business flair of our members.  

He added, “Especially impressive was the long-term planning and vision shown by so many entrants, who are clearly building sustainable businesses for future generations, not just for short-term gain.  Wood Brewery  should be very proud of its win.” 

The Air Ambulance provides the primary response to counties including the West Midlands, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, dealing with over 3,500 callouts each year. It operates from Tatenhill Airport in Staffordshire, RAF Cosford, near Wolverhampton, and Strensham North Services on the M5. The cost of running and maintaining current level of operations stands at £5.6 million.

Lands End to John O'Groats

BREWERS’ BIRTHDAY BIKE RIDE EARNS £11,500 FOR CHARITY

Bicycling brewer Edward Wood has presented Midlands Air Ambulance with £11,500 from his Land’s End – John O’Groats bike ride and sales of a special beer which marked the brewery’s 30th and his 60th birthdays.

To mark his 12-day completion of the near-1,000 route between Britain’s south and north extremities, Edward, MD of the Wood Brewery at Wistanstow, Shropshire, mounted the cheque on a bike wheel to present it to Stef Langford-Brown MAA Fundraising Manager at the MAA flying base at Cosford, with air crew Kerry Penn-Ashman and Andy Bowden.

“I set an original target of raising £6,000 for Air Ambulance, but the tremendous generosity of people who sponsored my ride, and good sales of our 30-60 Challenge beer, mean we’re able to give nearly double the total. That makes all the effort of the ride seem so worthwhile, so thanks to all who gave,” said Edward.

Stef Langford-Brown said: “We’re all in awe of what Edward has achieved,” said Stef Langford Brown. “Midlands Air Ambulance prides itself on being able to provide a rapid response but I’m not sure many of us could cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats in 12 days. Edward is a marvellous supporter of the charity and the sums he has raised for us are as impressive as his stamina.”

On the bike ride itself, Edward said: “I can honestly say my body has never been so sore as after all those hours of pedalling! But the ride did have great compensations, especially seeing how fantastic our countryside is in the late spring, particularly going through Scotland.”

Other highs were the camaraderie that developed between the 18-strong party as they cycled north and the well-earned stops for picnic lunches.

While Edward undertook the ride to mark the double birthday, there was an extra reason for doing so: last year, Air Ambulance had to whisk his son Jonathan from Shrewsbury for life-saving emergency brain surgery in Stoke following a freak cricketing accident. Jonathan has since made a full recovery.

“It’s not until situations like that hit you that you realise just what an indispensible part that Air Ambulance plays in all our lives – and it relies entirely on voluntary donations,” said the brewer.

The Air Ambulance provides the primary response to counties including the West Midlands, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Hefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, dealing with over 3,500 callouts each year. It operates from Tatenhill Airport in Staffordshire, RAF Cosford, near Wolverhampton, and Strensham North Services on the M5. The cost of running and maintaining current level of operations stands at £5.6 million

Thursday 13 May: Celebrated my 60th birthday when co-riders presented me with a cake and a bottle of fine malt whisky just after breakfast... we're saving it for tonight! In the meantime we have to cycle 83 miles and climb around 2,300 metres on the way to Dingwall on the Firth of Cromarty. It's blowing a gale as we head towards the home of Ross County, who play Celtic in the Scottish Cup final on Saturday. The finish is getting closer!!

Wednesday May 12: Made it from Kilmarnock to Inverary on Loch Fyne yesterday (Tuesday), stopping at the Loch Fyne Brewery for a quick introduction to a fellow brewer. What a fantastic location. Less saddle sore after I’m wearing 2 pairs of shorts and a pair of cycle tights! And the weather was kinder with the wind dropping and sun coming out.

Apprehensive about today’s marathon – 96 miles and 3,700 metres of climbing. This will be a tester…

Now well into Scotland, having encountered some tough cycling through northern England, up from Shrewsbury to Preston, and then on over Shap to Carlisle. Northerly headwind continues to make life difficult – and I'm saddlesore! Overall, though, going well.

Wood's Parish voted top regional beer

Wood’s Parish took the Gold Medal for bottled beers below 4.9% at the Small Independent Brewers’ (SIBA) Wales and West Regional Championships held during the Ludlow Spring Food and Drink Festival at the weekend.

“Parish is a tremendous bitter, one of our oldest established beers, and we’re delighted with the recognition that this award brings,” said Wood’s Sales Manager Mike Turner, pictured on the left receiving the certificate for the brewery, which is currently celebrating 30 years of brewing.

Parish was blind-judged alongside dozens of other bottled beers by a panel of independent experts and will now go on to be considered for a SIBA national award.

Around 160 beers were available at the Festival.

Lands End to John O'Groats

Friday 7 May: Got drenched on the 96 miles to Tintern yesterday. The reward was waiting in the Royal George at night – a pint of bitter from Severn Vale, one of the first fellow brewers to sponsor me - thanks to Steve at that brewery.
So far today I'm getting very cold on the 90 miles towards and through home territory to Shrewsbury. Hope the weather warms up! Looking forward to a pint of Wood's at the Lion in Shrewsbury tonight!

Thursday May 6: Onwards to Tintern today with grey skies and showers forecast

Wednesday May 5: Finished the 70 miles from Liskeard to Tiverton, including going over Dartmoor (pictured). The northerly wind was less severe than we had feared, which made cycling easier, and I was feeling much better at the finish than on the first day.

End of Day 1 (4 May): Absolutely knacked!! First to finish because we kept to the right route, unlike some others in the party who took a wrong turn somewhere. Tortoise wins again! Not looking forward to tomorrow over Dartmoor and into northerly headwind again.

4th May 2010

Wood's MD Edward Wood this morning embarked on a near-1,000 mile bike ride to John O'Groats from Lands End to raise over £9,000 for Midlands Air Ambulance. We'll keep you posted via the website on his progress."

April 2010

Businesses make air ambulance fund fly

Donations from South Shropshire businesses have helped ensure that Wistanstow brewer Edward Wood will sail past his target of raising £6,000 for Midlands Air Ambulance by cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats.

“Pledges from local businesses have taken me past the target already, which is tremendous. It’s been a great response – especially with trading conditions as they are,” said Edward, who is doing the ride to mark the Wood Brewery’s 30 years of trading and his own 60th birthday.

Among South Shropshire businesses to have donated are: AT Lloyd Electricians, Cyril Bason, Sign Workshop, Station Inn Marshbrook, Newington Garage Craven Arms, Fieldfare Wild Bird Foods, Manear Design and Construction and Simon Brown Architects.

 Edward added: “The aim now is to go as far over that £6,000 target as we can. Our special bitter, 30-60 Challenge, is selling well and the brewery is donating 10p for every pint sold, so that should add substantially to the total. I’m also expecting contributions from several people in the brewing industry, so it’s looking very good.”

Edward’s near-1,000-mile ride starts on 4 May and should take 12 days, including his birthday on 13 May. He is presently training hard.

He chose Midlands Air Ambulance as the charity after an emergency airlift helped save the life of his son, Jonathan, who suffered a potentially fatal head injury in a freak cricketing accident in Shrewsbury last year.