CHEERS: Moorhouse’s managing director David Grant with some of the beers that are winging their way to New York.

AN East Lancashire brewery famed for its Pendle Witch and Black Cat real ales is casting its spell across America.

Moorhouse’s, based in Burnley, is giving big guns Budweiser and Coors a run for their money after branching out into the US market.

David Grant, managing director at the Accrington Road-based brewery, said: “I am a great believer in the idea that if you do something, you do it properly, and it seemed to me that we were not giving the American market the attention that it needed.”

And the charm offensive is already reaping rewards, with US sales set to quadruple this year.

The brewery exports its award-winning cask ales to liquor stores and bars in New York, Baltimore and Washington.

Brewers at the Burnley site concoct one tipple – English Owd Ale – especially for the US, and it is proving the most popular.

But one the well known beers has to undergo a slight name change before it is hits the US shores.

John Ingham, of East Lancs CAMRA who runs the Rising Sun, in Gisburn Road, Blacko, said Blond Witch had a similar sounding name in America but it could cause offence over here.

He said: “I think it’s because they’re a bit funny about witchcraft. The other word is obviously not as offensive!

“I’m delighted to see it doing so well. I think they are some of the greatest beers in England.

“The lagers they usually drink in America are quite cold so if they are serving the Moorhouse’s beers at the right temperature I would imagine they will get a lot more flavour.”

Despite exporting to the US for 15 years, Moorhouse’s has only recently appointed a salesman in the country, a move that has achieved results.

Mr Grant said: “We had never had any face-to-face contact with our importer there.

“So I spoke to him and discovered that we knew nothing about him or his business and, more importantly, nothing about his customers or their spending.”

Story written by Chris Hopper of the Lancashire Telegraph.

David Grant, MD Moorhouse's Brewery

Prince Charles was briefed on Moorhouse’s new multi-million pound brewing complex as he paid a hectic royal visit to Burnley.

During an action packed tour of the north-east Lancashire town that included meetings with local businessmen, Moorhouse’s managing director David Grant was able to outline the £3.5m project to the Prince.

The 145-year-old company has recently commenced work on the major ‘tower brewery’ development which will double the workforce and treble production capacity for the internationally acclaimed ‘Pendle Witch’ cask ales to some 1,000 barrels a week. A training school and visitor centre are also included to help in regenerating the former mill town.

David Grant, who gave interviews with the BBC over the day, said: “To have a visit from the Prince was a great day for Burnley and a terrific opportunity to reveal Moorhouse’s exciting plans to him. We are playing a key role in the development of Burnley and the Prince showed real interest. In a short presentation I told him this was the first traditional tower brewery to be built for many years and he was impressed that we have included a visitor centre in the scheme. He thought this would help to promote the town. He asked me to write to him with further details.”

“Over the day I had the chance to talk with him further on a couple of occasions.He expressed his great concern about the closure of rural pubs and spoke of the ways in which they might be saved through use as post offices and stores. I pointed out the red tape obstacles that are involved in this and he was most interested.In fact,I saw so much of the Prince that at one stage he jokingly asked if I was stalking him.”

Prince Charles has a strong links with Burnley through the Prince’s Trust charity that supports training and employment opportunities for young people. His itinerary included visits to the new £81m University of Central Lancashire campus, historic Townley Hall for a meeting with business and community leaders and Turf Moor, the home of Burnley Football Club, where David Grant joined a panel of local business people to debate ways forward for the town.

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg pledged to revitalise northern industry on a visit to Moorhouse’s Brewery in Burnley.

In the Lancashire town to support the parliamentary candidate Coun Gordon Birtwhistle- also leader of Burnley Borough Council – the MP for Sheffield Hallam revealed the party’s regional plans while at the award winning brewery to witness its success.

Despite the recession 145 year old Moorhouse’s has recently commenced work on a £3.5m expansion to treble production capacity for the internationally acclaimed‘Pendle Witch’ ales and double the workforce. The development will include a training school and visitor centre, which will help regenerate the former mill town.

Speaking to Granada TV, local radio and regional newspaper journalists, Mr Clegg said that successive goverments had abandoned northern towns,such as Burnley, once famous for their industries. He pledged that the Lib-Dems would bring in policies to rebuild the industrial heartlands with tax reforms, education and training and a £3.5bn economic stimulus to create new green jobs and help entreprenuers with local enterprise funds.

Lib-Dem leader Nick Clegg raises a toast to Moorhouse's with Coun Gordon Birtwhistle (left) and brewery MD David Grant (right).

“If we have learnt anything from the financial crisis, it must surely be that we need to rebalance the economy away from financial wizardry and towards the production of goods and services that people actually need,” he said.

After sampling a pint of Premier Bitter in the General Scarlett brewery tap (see photograph) he added: “It was a real honour to be shown around a brewery as old and distinguished as Moorhouse’s. Hearing from David Grant about the plans to expand and open a new multi-million brewing complex showed that despite all the negative news, there are still good stories out there. Liberal Democrats in Parliament are at the forefront of speaking up for brewers and businesses more generally in Westminster, so it was extremely useful to hear first-hand about the industry issues.”

Moorhouse’s managing director David Grant said: “We worked closely with the council’s business support team to help make our expansion plans a reality.This visit helped to highlighted how small businesses can succeed despite the economic problems. It also provided an opportunity to express our concerns to Nick Clegg on behalf of the industry.

“It is clear that he is very supportive of craft brewing. He recognises that it is a sector helping to keep the manufacturing skills base alive in many northern towns. We spoke of the issues for the trade such as the advantages of the tie for independent brewers and how we need a level playing field with the supermarket giants of the off-trade – something he said he will certainly keep his eye on.”

Moorhouse’s is the North West’s leading dedicated cask-conditioned ale brewer and has won more awards than any other brewer of comparable size. The new brewery will produce some 1,000 barrels a week while still using traditional brewing skills.

David Grant, MD Moorhouse's Brewery

Moorhouse’s Brewery has toasted another record breaking year with seasonal sales up by 12 per cent as a total of 432,500 pints of cask ale left the brewery.

The news followed a 13 per cent increase in turnover on 2008 during October and November – when the famous Pendle Witch brews are in great demand for Halloween.

The 2009 figures topped an outstanding year for Moorhouse’s as work got underway on a £3.5m new brewing complex to triple brewing capacity. New business was won with leading pub companies and in the south of England, while the internationally acclaimed brewery was also recognised in prestigious Lancashire business awards.

In November, the Burnley brewer was praised in the Lancashire Telegraph Business Awards for its determination to expand despite the economic downturn, while earlier in the year Burnley Borough Council awarded Moorhouse’s the Best Marketing Initiative accolade.

David Grant, Moorhouse’s managing director, said: “Recent years have seen us consistently smash all previous records and once again we have enjoyed an amazing festive season. This was despite the difficult economy and many pubs being hit by the bad weather. These sales round off an exciting year and give us a great start to 2010. They are a real tribute to the wide appeal of our award winning beers and are particularly gratifying as the new brewery project forges ahead. Winning business accolades for our efforts also gives an extra boost for everyone at the brewery.”

Moorhouse’s is the North West’s leading dedicated cask ale brewery and directly supplies several hundred free-houses and pub company outlets in the region and in Yorkshire while the beers are also distributed nationally via leading wholesalers and major pub chains.

Manchester’s Christie Hospital has been presented with a £2,000 cheque (see photograph) from Lancashire’s acclaimed Moorhouse’s Brewery following a fund raising golf tournament.

The annual two day charity event, for Moorhouse’s customers and suppliers, saw 35 teams compete at the Standish Court Golf Club, near Chorley. The £2,000 was raised for with a raffle of prizes contributed by suppliers and an auction. It was donated to the specialist cancer hospital’s Lymphoma Department. The Christie is one of Europe’s leading cancer centres.

(L-R) Moorhouse's directors Bill and Irene Parkinson, Jacky Plant of Christie and brewery MD David Grant.

David Grant, managing director, said: “Our competition has become ever more popular each year so for the second time we ran it over two days and we were very pleased to be able to raise this money for Christie.”

Burnley based Moorhouse’s is the North West’s leading dedicated cask-conditioned ale brewer and has won more awards than any other comparable brewer. Work began recently on a £3.5m new brewery development to triple production capacity for its famous ‘Pendle Witch’ brands.

Moorhouse’s Brewery has been hailed one of East Lancashire’s most outstanding businesses for 2009. At the annual Lancashire Telegraph Business Awards the Burnley brewer was ‘heralded as an innovator’ with the ‘We’re Backing Business’ accolade.

Presented for the first time this year, in partnership with Business Link, the award recognised Moorhouse’s determination to buck the recession – winning new national supply deals with leading pub chains and going ahead with a £3.5m expansion programme.

At the glittering presentation evening at Blackburn’s Ewood Park, the audience heard that Moorhouse’s has enjoyed 15 per cent year-on-year growth and how the new brewing complex will treble production capacity and include a training school and visitor centre to create 17 new jobs.

David Grant of Moorhouse's (left) receives the business award from Khallid Saifullah of Business Link.

David Grant, Moorhouse’s managing director, said: “This comes at a very exciting time. With our new complex coming on-stream in 2011, we now stand on the brink of taking our place as a true regional brewer. The award recognises that, no matter how bad the economic climate, if you are determined to achieve and you have the right team behind you then you can do it. We have not accepted the recession. Being positive and living with it is the key.”

The win was the internationally acclaimed brewer’s third business accolade this year. It follows the Best Marketing Initiative trophy from Burnley Borough Council Business Innovation Awards and a Highly Commended award at the Food North West Awards.

Moorhouse’s is the North West’s largest dedicated cask ale brewery and has won more awards than any brewer of comparable size with the famous brands that pay tribute to the witches who roamed Pendle Hill, near Burnley, in the early 17th century.

Moorhouse’s has rolled out new festive brew Lap Prancer.

Replacing Santa’s Piste, the acclaimed Burnley brewer’s previous Christmas special, Lap Prancer (4.2%) is brewed with a Bock style malt (Munich Malt), often associated with religious occasions, to give amber to mid brown coloured ale with a rich, full malty flavour. Cascade and Fuggles hops provide a spicy/floral aroma and a satisfying long finish.

Moorhouse’s managing director David Grant said: “Santa’s Piste was very popular for several years but we decided to ring the changes with this new brew to add a little more to the seasonal fun. Our brewers have come up with a very flavoursome rich and satisfying brew which, with its humorous branding, we think we will well suit the festivities.”

In line with growth throughout the year, the award winning brewer is once again anticipating record breaking sales of its five core famous Pendle Witch brands* over the Christmas and New Year. This year advertising support has switched from regional TV to Lancashire local radio with a commercial aired throughout December. Two years ago Moorhouse’s became the smallest brewer ever to launch a festive TV campaign, which also ran last year.

Recently work has begun on a new £3.5m brewery complex that will treble production capacity to around 1000 barrels a week by early 2011 and include a visitor centre and training school.

East Lancs Camra’s John Ingham has celebrated taking over a popular Moorhouse’s village pub with a brewery supported ‘greet the locals night’.

For retired accountant and former branch chairman John, the numbers added up to step behind the bar at the Rising Sun in Blacko, near Colne, Lancashire. A favourite pub of Roger Protz, the unspoilt historic hostelry overlooks the famous Pendle Hill landmark in Lancashire’s witch country – the inspiration for Moorhouse’s acclaimed brands, including Black Cat, Pendle Witches Brew, Blond Witch and Pride of Pendle.

Cheers to John Ingham (right) at the Rising Sun.

To mark John’s arrival, brewery chairman Bill Parkinson joined a ‘welcome night’ complete with quiz prizes that included a pint of beer a day for a month. Prior to the night, one-pint vouchers were issued in the parish magazine to be redeemable throughout November in a teasing ‘Take Pride in Your Local’ promotion. John says he plans to ensure a warm welcome to villagers and visitors alike in a friendly village pub environment with a quality home cooked bar snacks.

David Grant, Moorhouse’s managing director said: “This is a terrific community pub and we wanted to welcome John with a special night for the villagers. Moorhouse’s witch beers have, of course, a reputation for their top quality – and now we have got a top Camra man to look after them.”

The award winning Burnley brewer enjoyed record shattering sales for October**. In the week before Halloween 522 brewer’s barrels left the Lancashire brewery as demand for the famous ‘Pendle Witches’ cask ales grows throughout the UK. The sales triumph comes as the internationally acclaimed brewer embarks on a £3.5m new brewery development to treble production capacity.

Moorhouse’s expects to bewitch cask ale enthusiasts throughout the country this month as the famous ‘Pendle Witches’ ales enjoy record breaking Halloween sales.

Supplying the forthcoming Wetherspoons Beer Festival the leading Lancashire cask brewer will deliver 1000 firkins of premium strength Black Panther (4.8%ABV) to the national pub chain and roll out a seasonal ales selection to free traders.

Under the annual ‘Which Craft’ Ales Will You Be Drinking this October?’ promotion the carefully blended ales available are: Broomstick Bitter (4.0%abv); Witchhunt (4.8%abv); Black Witch (4.2%abv); Witches Cauldron (4.2%abv); Witchfinder General (4.4%abv) alongside the award winning core brands, including Blond Witch and Black Cat. The promotion is also supported with hundreds of miniature witch models offered to selected free traders as give-aways and prizes for Halloween quizzes.

David Grant, Managing Director, with the Halloween ales and witch models.

Moorhouse’s internationally acclaimed brands pay tribute to the legend of the notorious witches who roamed the Pendle Hill area near Burnley in the late 16th century. In recent years the brewery has seen sales boosted by more than 35% during the weeks prior to October 31.

David Grant, Moorhouse’s managing director, said: “We were delighted to win the J.D Wetherspoon deal for this year’s Halloween season. On top of our ever growing free trade business it means we have hit a new production record – more than 500 brewer’s barrels in one week alone. Also, once again we are supporting free traders who wish to enjoy another magical October with their customers despite the general doom and gloom.

“Overall our sales continue to enjoy year-on-year growth – 15% this year. A recently published Cask Report reveals more and more people are making cask their drink of choice. We are very pleased to be playing a lead role in persuading drinkers that cask is magic – at Halloween and all year round.”

Following the sales growth of recent years the brewery has now embarked upon a £3.5m development that will treble production capacity to around 1000 barrels a week by early 2011.

Lancashire’s famous Moorhouse’s Brewery has seen the dawn of a new era for the 144 year old business as work commences on an ambitious £3.5m brewing complex.

To mark the historic occasion chairman Bill Parkinson cut the first sod on the 5,000 square metre site with the help of an earth loader (see photograph). Founder of the Manchester based world-wide lifting gear business the LGH Group plc, Mr Parkinson bought the then ailing Burnley brewery in the eighties ‘because he liked the beer’.

On completion the state-of-the-art brewery will triple current brewing capacity for the world beating Pendle Witches cask-conditioned brews to some 1000 barrels per week. Both a training school and visitor centre are included in the investment, which will help in the regeneration of the former mill town while also doubling the current brewery workforce.

The first sod is in the bucket at Moorhouse's - L-R MD David Grant; Richard Cryer, MD Watergate Contractors; Bill Parkinson, Moorhouse's chairman.

The £1.8m phase one, comprising new brew-house and warehousing, is now scheduled for commissioning next summer. Stage two will see new offices, visitor centre and training school erected on the site of the present Moorhouse Street brewery, built in 1870 by William Moorhouse as he expanded his drinks business.  Finally, the existing administration centre and warehouse will be cleared for car parking with completion planned for early 2011. Main contractor for the development is Watergates of Wakefield and brewing equipment contracts have been agreed with leading industry suppliers.

David Grant, Moorhouse’s managing director, said: “Last year the directors took the bold decision to go ahead despite the recession. There have been some unforeseen red tape delays, but now it is all systems go. Cutting the first sod was a true red letter day for our chairman, who continued to believe in the brewery despite difficult times in the past.

Bill Parkinson said: “This is a tremendously exciting time. The brewery struggled throughout the nineties but in recent years sales have grown at 17 per cent year-on-year. This ambitious investment is a very strong pledge of confidence in that success and, more generally, in the future for cask ale.”

Moorhouse’s directly supplies several hundred freehouse’s and pub company outlets in the North West and Yorkshire while the beers are also distributed nationally via leading wholesalers and major pub chains. Over the coming months discounted rates are being offered on the popular brewery tours to Camra groups wishing to visit the original Moorhouse Street brewery before it is replaced.