Axminster couple win gold at top Devon beer festival - and clinch deal to supply River Cottage

AN Axminster couple are heading for the top of the ale-making tree – with their Monkey IPA.

Judges went nuts for John and Becky Whinnerah’s powerful brew, awarding it gold at the Tuckers Maltings Beer Festival, in Newton Abbot.

The duo, who live in Axminster with their three young daughters, make their ales at their five barrel micro brewery in North Chideock.

They recently launched a new range under the name Chideock Brewery, aimed at getting their beers better known locally and have a partnerhsip deal with River Cottage, in Axminster.

Mr Whinnerah said they were over the moon with their fetsivalk win.

“It is a real privilege,” he said. “The festival is run by the Society of Independent Brewers, and has over 300 ales on offer. It has been going for 20 years and is highly respected.

“We’ve always dreamed of winning at Tuckers and can’t quite believe it’s come true.

“We first went there as beer judges many years ago back when we ran a pub and before we had ever gone near a mash tun, never thinking one day it would be our beer in the running. It is a dream come true.”

The couple have recently launmched a new beer range at their five barrel micro brewery is in North Chideock and have apretnerhsip edeal wqith River Coittage in Axminster.

Added Mr Whinnerah : “Now we are bottling, and are fortunate enough to be stocked by River Cottage, things are really picking up. We are hoping to do some meet the producers events at River Cottage and also at Felicity’s Farmshop in Morecombelake over the summer.”

Their winning Monkey ale packs a gorilla-sized punch at 6.4ABV.