‘I’ve made a Brummie gin out of craft beer & it tastes fantastic’

It’s the strange Brummie tipple that has sparked more than mild surprise.

But the city brewery producing a gin made from beer say it’s a real tonic! The strange spirit has been created by Stirchley’s Birmingham Brewing Company, known for its six ales that are available in local pubs.

They’re made on premises that were once a prop room for daytime soap Doctors. The gin is very much a side-line, but Paul Harwood, who launched the brewery in 2017, says it’s just what the doctor ordered for those looking for a different gin experience.

“It’s not a dry gin,” said the 36-year-old, “and the beer gives it more malty characteristics.” The gin is made from the mash of the company’s best selling brand, Pale Brummie. Preparation takes place at the brewery and the product is then sent to a distiller.

It’s available at the Hazelwell Road company’s on-site tap house bar and restaurant and can also be ordered. But it has a long way to go before eclipsing the reputation gained by Paul’s beers: Pale Brummie, Gold Brummie, Bitter Brummie, Stout Brummie and Stirchley Lager. The company is constantly trying newlines such as the 0.5 per cent Sober Brummie and Christmas special Merry Brummie.

Paul worked at Lloyds Bank before taking the plunge into the brewery trade. He hasn’t looked back, with a team of 20 now working with him. “Sometimes I think it’s got a little out of hand,” he said. “Brewing had been a hobby since my student days, then 15 years ago small breweries began to spring up. I thought there was an opening in Birmingham. We try to do a couple of new beers each month and there was a strong mild at the back of last year. My own favourite is Pale Brummie, our most popular.

As well as the tap house, Birmingham Brewing Company conducts tours and stages one day “beer school” courses. Paul added: “We just want to keep brewing good beer and get it out as wide as we can.”