Burton Bridge Brewery and Heritage Brewing Secure PIPP Innovation Grant to Expand Production Capabilities

Burton Bridge Brewery, together with Heritage Brewing, is excited to announce that it has secured a PIPP Innovation Grant from East Staffordshire Borough Council, introduced through the Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce. The grant had funded the purchase of a new fermentation/conditioning tank specifically designed for keg beer production.

This investment marks an important milestone for the brewery. When Burton Bridge Brewery was founded, the original owners had planned to develop a lager, but the project never made it to fruition due to limited capacity and equipment constraints. With the arrival of the new tank, the brewery will finally be able to explore lager production as well as broaden its overall range of keg beers. It will also open up flexibility for brewing new styles of cask beer with the shape of the tank making it suitable for dry hopping and fruit and spice additions while maintaining the clarity of the beer.

“Securing this grant allows us to take a significant step forward,” said Emma Cole, Brewery Manager. “Keg production opens the door to new styles we’ve wanted to brew for years and different venues specialise in keg beer. It also means we can supply a wider variety of our own beers to the Burton Bridge Inn, giving customers even more choice from a brewery that is extremely passionate about helping keep Burton’s reputation as a great beer town.”

The PIPP Innovation Grant programme supports local businesses in developing new products, improving processes, and driving growth. For Burton Bridge and Heritage Brewing, the funding supports both tradition and innovation – strengthening Burton’s brewing heritage while enabling new avenues for experimentation.

Installation of the new tank has just arrived and is being plumbed in. Head brewer Al Wall says ‘the first beer that goes in the tank will be a cask beer. As this new tank is a cylindro-conical vessel it will allow us to navigate new waters for Burton Bridge by looking at vessel dry hopping and also different yeast strains. After we feel comfortable with the new tank we will set our sights on kegged produce, both ales and lagers”. The tank is coming from from Spey Valley Brewery in Keith and being shipped via local Burton company, H.Young Transport.

About Burton Bridge Brewery and Heritage Brewing

Founded in 1982, Burton Bridge Brewery is a cornerstone of Burton upon Trent’s modern brewing scene. Last year they merged with Heritage Brewing and now as one team brewing two distinctly Burton ranges of beer, continue the region’s renowned traditions. Recreating classic beer recipes using historic methods alongside modern and traditional cask beer, they celebrate the past while brewing for the future