An independent brewery operating as a one-person business is set to launch its first ever taproom at newly refurbished waterside premises in Oxford this week.
The BMAN Brewery outlet at Salters Boatyard near Donnington Bridge will welcome its first customers on Saturday, April 11, with drinks, live entertainment and a range of BMAN beers available.
Alex Berryman owns, brews and manages the business entirely on his own, having worked intensely to prepare for the opening, which involved moving his equipment from the industrial unit at Monument Business Park where production began five years ago.
Mr Berryman noted that there were countless details requiring careful thought, and that moving 850kg of brewing equipment proved particularly difficult.
The entire installation required lifting via crane from the previous site onto a large flatbed vehicle, and Mr Berryman recalled driving behind the truck watching his essential equipment secured in place as it made its way along the Oxford ring road, describing the experience as unforgettable.
The new site surpasses the original location in size, featuring a 1,000 square foot production facility that roughly doubles BMAN’s brewing output, alongside the business’s inaugural taproom with room for as many as 100 guests.
Converting the empty unit at Salters Boatyard into the welcoming venue Mr Berryman had envisioned proved exhausting.
He explained that he personally handled every aspect, including manually applying paint to the 1,000 square foot ceiling standing 3.5 metres high for several days in succession until his neck ached from looking upward constantly.
To ensure the best possible beer quality and draft service, Mr Berryman took the significant step of cutting into the cold storage unit to feed the taps directly through the wall.
This allowed him to build a 12 tap draft system serving drinks at a chilled two degrees, using the shortest possible lines to guarantee both cleanliness and temperature maintenance for every beverage on offer.
A wide selection of drinks will satisfy varied tastes, with nine BMAN beers available on tap including lagers, IPAs and Saisons, all produced in-house, alongside a non-alcoholic guest beer, draft cider and Frizzante prosecco.
The venue has also been fitted with accessibility features including a ramp leading to the taproom, baby changing facilities and accessible toilets.
Mr Berryman said a local resident recently stopped him in the street to express how pleased the neighbourhood was to see the new establishment taking shape.
The official opening will occur at the new taproom in Salters Boatyard near Donnington Bridge from noon until 9pm on Saturday, April 11.
Alongside the drinks selection, the Mexican street food trader La Cookaracha will be serving food to visitors, with seating available inside the taproom and on the grass by the river for up to 100 people.