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Care home residents celebrate launch of new beer
Older people and individuals living with dementia are marking the launch of their very own beer in collaboration with a local brewing collective.
Hoppiness Brews, a community-led project that brings people together through beer, has worked with more than 150 residents at St Monica Trust sites on their new bitter, Hundred Not Out.
The community interest company aims to enrich the lives of those living in care home facilities and retirement homes through creativity and outdoor activity.
The beer will be launched on Thursday through Wiper and True – photo: Hoppiness Brews
They facilitated St Monica Trust residents grow and harvest the hops themselves, before partnering with Wiper and True to create the final pint.
Hoppiness Brews co-founder Guy Manchester said: “Thanks to support from Alive Activities, the St Monica Trust and Wiper and True, we’ve been able to involve local care home and retirement village residents, their families and care teams in the full brewing journey – from nurturing hops in gardens to deciding on the name of the finished beer.
“Along the way, we’ve delivered therapeutic multi-sensory activity sessions for residents with a diagnosis of dementia which, as well as fostering socialisation and a sense of identity, have also triggered happy memories of earlier get-togethers, including in a place most of us visit at some time in our lives – the pub.”
Residents at St Monica Trust homes grew their own hops for the new beer – photo: Hoppiness Brews
Wiper and True’s founder Michael Wiper added: “It’s an absolute privilege to see how beer can bring people together across generations and make such a positive impact.”
The hops were grown in St Monica Trust sites in Bedminster, Sandford, Westbury-on-Trym and Keynsham, along with Filton, Redland and Soundwell.
A participant in the project, Caroline Drewell, said: “For me it was the joy of seeing residents from our villages and care homes busily picking hops together.
“It didn’t matter how many you picked or how fast, everyone was contributing and helping each other, with plenty of laughter and chatting”.
Participants have been involved in every step of the brewing process – photo: Hoppiness Brews
The bitter was named in honour of the trust’s 100-year anniversary.
The chief executive of St Monica Trust, David Williams, said: “It has been a real pleasure watching both the hops and our residents of all abilities, flourishing through their involvement with Hoppiness Brews.
“Hundred Not Out embodies the spirit of connection, contribution and choice that underpins everything we do and it is the perfect brew with which to toast our 100 years of caring.”
The beer will be officially launching at Wiper and True’s Taproom in Old Market on Thursday, with those over 18 being offered free samples of the community-driven brew. It will then be available to buy through Wiper and True.
Main photo: Camilla Adams
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