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T&J gets Thousand Trades microbrewery up and running

Microbrewery installation T&J installs microbrewery

T&J has helped make the vision of a local aspirational home-brewer become a reality with its microbrewery installation services. Paul Scrivens, Head Brewer and owner of Thousand Trades Brewing, instructed T&J to assist in the creation of his brewing facility.

Paul had had the idea of brewing beer for a few years. With a long career in IT, he was looking to find something new and different to focus on. Having first experimented with home-brewing, he coined the name ‘Thousand Trades Brewing’, a nod to an old Birmingham namesake, and made the move to rent premises and order the necessary equipment.

The project ran aground when Paul found himself unable to translate his newly purchased equipment into a functioning brewery. By his own admission, Paul felt as if he was ‘floundering’ at this point.

Paul said: “I knew most of what needed to be done, but I didn’t have the knowledge or skills to do it. My search for specialists was fairly fruitless – I considered hiring a plumber and an electrician, but knew it would be unlikely that they’d have the experience in this particular work.

“I couldn’t imagine that a national company, doing this sort of work, would be interested in my small beginnings.”

Thousand Trades Paul and Jeff

Paul (pictured abover left) was made aware of T&J by friend, Jeff Berry (pictured above right), owner of the Pup & Duckling micropub in Solihull. T&J advised Jeff on the creation of Solihull’s first ever micropub, and then supplied all equipment and installation services. You can find more information on T&J’s work at the Pup & Duckling here.

“Jeff recommended I talk to T&J, after the work they had done for him at the Pup & Duckling. I made the call and, from that point, things started to move very quickly. Paul Cassells came and visited the premises, evaluated the space and the equipment that I had already purchased. and identified additional works. Within two weeks of that call, the electrical and plumbing works to hook everything up were underway.”

Following T&J’s commission day, Paul was ready to begin brewing: “Simon, one of T&J’s engineers, was on-site on the first brew day to provide me with some invaluable advice and assistance as the brewing began, tweaking a snag or two in the brewery, allowing me to get things off to a smooth start.”

Thousand Trades microbrewery labels

Since that first brew day, T&J has installed a cask washer for the Thousand Trades Brewing and Paul’s plans for the brewery involve further works from T&J: “As I run the brewery for its first year, I hope to take over the neighbouring unit and utilise T&J’s refrigeration expertise to install a cold room in there.”

To get in touch with Paul Scrivens at Thousand Trades Brewing, call 07768 454741 or email pscrivens@thousandtradesbrewing.co.uk.

For more information on T&J’s beer dispense services for microbreweries and micropubs, please contact Paul Cassells by calling 0121 783 8925 or emailing pcassells@tjinstall.co.uk.

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Units A&B, Riverside Industrial Estate, Atherstone Street, Fazeley, Tamworth B78 3RW
T: 0121 783 8925