CURRENTLY we have two real ale micro-breweries at the farmers’ market every week. Our own Stroud Brewery is there every second and fourth Saturday, Corinium Ales of Cirencester every first Saturday, Hillside Brewery from Longhope in the Forest of Dean every third Saturday and Gloucester Brewery are there every week.

It is an interesting fact that it has been difficult over the long life of the market to make beer a successful product. Over the years we have had the Cotswold Brewing Company, Warcop Ales and Wickwar Brewery making a go of it but all failing to build a steady trade and eventually giving up. So, what has brought on this turnaround in the fortunes of our brewers?

In any retail environment consistency of product availability is key when building a customer base and the fortunes of all the brewers now doing famously every Saturday is, in my humble opinion, down to the willingness of Gloucester Brewery to make a weekly commitment to the market just over five years ago, thus putting real ale onto the shopping lists of our regulars and also attracting beer enthusiasts to the market on a weekly basis. When they first asked if they could come every week I was nervous it would be a disaster for them; how wrong I was!

The great thing about the team at Gloucester is that they are mega enthusiastic about beer and always looking to create new flavours and special batches. Their website says: “We are very lucky to be brewing in a time where many people are excited about beer and about exploring the different styles available. It is this which drives our creative process. This year’s specials will include plenty of new world hop forward style beers to tantalize your taste buds using hops from New Zealand, Australia and the USA.”

Their first beer was the iconic Gloucester Gold which has gone from strength to strength.