no. 036 | Rivington

Three years in, we’re delighted to a) still be doing this, & b) continuing to introduce new UK breweries that we think are exceptional. Rivington is responsible for our latest beer selections. 

Somewhat unbelievably, batch no. 036 marks three years of batch. We absolutely love discovering and delivering you new and interesting breweries, so before we introduce you to August’s feature brewery we wanted to extend a heartfelt thank you. Whether you’ve just recently started receiving our monthly deliveries, or have been with us since day one, we really do appreciate the trust you put in batch to deliver something delicious to your door each month.

This month, we’re in Lancashire, home to Rivington Brewery. Taking its name from the town in which it’s brewed, Rivington was founded by brothers-in-law Ben Stubbs and Mike Richardson in 2015. Having spent time in North Carolina, Ben got a taste for modern, hop forward craft beer and began home brewing with Mike on his return.

It was on brewing their first attempt at a New England-style pale that the pair thought they were really onto something – so much so, they gave the beer a name and continued to iterate the recipe. ‘Never Known Fog Like It’ remains a core part of Rivington’s range to this day and, according to Ben, is “by far our number one selling beer – we even host an annual ‘Fog Day’ to celebrate it!”.

Rivington’s location is not just a brewery; the scenic plot is also a working farm that Mike was tending to prior to the founding of the brewery, and continues to oversee today. They are continually conscious of the need to stand out in a market filled with great breweries. Indeed, the main driver for them opting for 500ml cans rather than the more ubiquitous 440ml was to stand out and differentiate themselves. They’re also feeling the effects of larger breweries pursuing what Ben describes as “more aggressive selling” (and drops the name of one such brewery that starts with ‘B’ and ending in ‘eavertown’).

However, the team of 11 aren’t out for domination. “We’re seeking constant improvement”, says Ben. “Trying to find ways to improve is what makes it fun coming into work everyday. We chase quality over price, making sure we get the best hops, malt and yeast”. And they’re achieving growth and recognition on their own terms. At the end of August they’ll be hosting their annual beer festival, Farm Trip. Playing host to 53 breweries it’s a stark reminder of just how vibrant the UK and global craft beer scene continues to be, as well as the respect Rivington hold within it.