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When Matt Jackson and Phil Simpson met at University, little did they know that the stars of the beer world had aligned. The pair founded C2 Investment in 2002 and amongst other pub and beer related pursuits, set up Lancaster Brewery in 2005.

Based in Northumberland, near the borders of Cumbria and Durham, Allendale Brew Co was founded in 2006 and is run from a renovated Victorian Smelt Mill in the rugged North Pennines AONB, also known as England’s Last Wilderness.  During the industrial revolution the mill would have formed the centre of the mining industry in the area and this heritage is reflected in the identities of the beers.

Just like in the 18th Century, IPA has many names and guises from session IPA to imperial IPA. English breweries were sending beer to not just India but several warmer climates for the ex pats who lived their as either civil servants or the upper middle classes. Brewers soon realised that they needed the preservative qualities of hops to maintain the beers condition on the several months long journey.

Arriving at Siren Craft Tap Yard on Saturday, you get a little buzz of excitement that you just don't get walking into a pub. I don't know if it's because it's where the beer is brewed or the fact you're on an industrial estate on a Saturday morning and that's not usually where you're to be found drinking. More likely it's just because everyone else is a little buzzed up and excited about what beery delights they're going to find.

Did you know there are fewer Trappist breweries in the world than there are breeding giant pandas in captivity?