LOVEASHFORD
CURIOUS BREWERY CONT .
ASHFORD ’ S CURIOUS BREWERY
TOUR & TASTING
JUST A SHORT STROLL AWAY FROM insideKENT HQ , A CURIOUS NEIGHBOUR GLINTS UPON ASHFORD ’ S EVER- EVOLVING SKYLINE . A STRUCTURE OF GLASS AND STEEL , THIS STRIKING SIGHT OOZES IN MODERNITY AND PROMISES EXCITING INNOVATION AND ENTHRALLING CRAFTSMANSHIP UNDER ITS SHARP ANGLED ROOF . ONE FRIDAY MORNING UPON A BLUE-SKIED JANUARY DAY , THE insideKENT TEAM FINALLY MADE THE TRIP ACROSS THE ROAD TO INVESTIGATE EXACTLY WHAT WAS HOUSED IN ASHFORD ’ S CURIOUS BREWERY .
An experience now open to the public and promising to cure some of their own curiosity , a Curious Brewery tour for all the senses starts before you even set foot over the threshold . Like many other towns that come complete with breweries of their own , that distinctive hoppy smell is what first strikes visitors , preparing them for an immersive dive into everything it takes to craft a bottle of Curious Brewery ’ s premium beer . Waiting to welcome us into this futuristic space , is our tour guide for the afternoon , brewer Del Salhi . Joining in June 2019 , Del originally hailed from Washington DC and brought with him his American enthusiasm and charm , along with all his passion and experience for crafting and creating the beer itself . Del ’ s contagious energy is everything our team , which he refers to as the ‘ brew crew ’, could have hoped for on a Friday afternoon . Before we even have our safety specs and high-vis vests on , curiosity begins to strike .
At Curious , everything is done in-house and under the same open-plan roof meaning that the ultimate tour can take place demonstrating every step that goes into Curious ’ s brews from hop to bottle . Stepping inside , there are a myriad of sights , sounds and smells to absorb . A marvellous laboratory full of towering cylinders , snaking pipes and moving conveyor belts have pushed our curiosity levels into new realms and we look to our guide in this strange yet enthralling environment to explain . Gathering around Del , he talks us through the process , beginning with the hops themselves . As he speaks , Del ’ s passion for the product is fiercely evident , his attitude perfectly in tune with the brewery ’ s ethos to ‘ stay curious ’ and challenge the norm . He explains how and where the hops are grown , their unique flavours and how they are then turned into dry pellets ready to be used as the primary product in Curious brewing .
After this he leads us up a steep metal staircase to a balcony with spectacular views , which also gives access to the top of the ‘ Miss Ellen Adams ’ brewing cylinders . Del talks us through each one , telling us their names and sharing their technicalities and each part they play in the brewing journey . We peer through glass windows and down into the barrels catching a glimpse of the product in its many different stages and forms , including where the yeast is added for fermentation which ultimately makes the alcohol . After this , truly in rapture of the process , we head back downstairs to witness the bottling line and where the beer is put into kegs . We see men and women focused in their roles , evidently passionate about their craft . “ Eight or nine brewers are involved in the process here ,” Del tells us . “ As a team we don ’ t just have passion for our product and profession , but we also have passion for the ‘ scene ’ too . The pub scene and craft scene gives people a sense of belonging , it gives them an interest and intrigue , which is something we reflect here at Curious . Engagement in the process is crucial , as is learning and the importance of asking questions - ultimately , the need to stay curious .”
When our tour of the brewery itself ends , we head up to the impressive restaurant that sits at the highest level of the premises overlooking the factory below and Ashford outside through giant floor-to-ceiling windows . A huge , light , bright and airy space complete with a bar and steel beer barrels hanging overhead , a trip to Curious is well worth the visit even if just going for a drink . The restaurant offers tremendous wooden tables and long benches adorned with sheepskin rugs for guests as they enjoy their meals . Making use of one of these , the insideKENT team crowds round to enjoy a delicious meal of truffle pizzas , brisket , calamari , spicy chicken wings and of course , some beers and ciders for tasting to round off the day . Truly enlightened and full of enthusiasm for the craft , we leave in awe and admiration of our genius neighbour , already looking forward to our next trip back to curb our curiosity once again .
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