Artisan Isle of Axholme brewery is back in beer business

Owners of the Axholme Brewing Company, Jules and Mike Richards, are planning some exciting new ventures after taking a short break to find additional investment.

The company, based at 7 Lakes Country Park in Crowle, supplies customers all over the country with an impressive range of small batch, artisan beers in both bottles and casks made from local and seasonal ingredients.

Head brewer, Mike, and his wife Jules set up the 4 barrel brew plant in North Lincolnshire in 2012. Mike said: “We achieved some great things with the brewery and we’re really excited to be back in business. The demand for real ale and craft beer continues to grow and people are increasingly keen to buy locally produced ales.

“When we announced we were thinking of closing, we were taken aback by the response from our customers. We took some time out to reassess the brewery and find a more sustainable business model. Our main issue was time. As there were only two of us it became difficult to run the business as demand grew.”

He added: “We received investment from some other Lincolnshire-based beer enthusiasts and their input has galvanised the company and allowed me to spend more time on the thing I love – brewing.”

With the arrival of their son, Freddie, the couple’s lives are now even busier. Mike added: “Now seems the perfect time to expand the business and get some additional people to help us meet the demand of our customers.”

Investment has already led to some significant new lines of business. The brewery has agreed to supply their ale to several weddings and is now working with the Mariners Trust to create a bespoke bottled beer to celebrate Grimsby Town’s return to the football league – a four percent pale ale for Blundell Park.