Care Home Hop Growers Unveil Their First ‘hoppiness’ Beer
- Guild Secretary
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Diary date: Thursday 6 November (4pm to 7pm)
Free tastings and sales launch for HUNDRED NOT OUT, a beer made from hops grown locally by people living with dementia via an initiative run by a newly formed social enterprise, Hoppiness Brews (born out of a collaboration between local charities Alive Activities and the St Monica Trust).
Wiper & True Taproom, City Business Park, Old Market, BS5 0SP
Older people and people living with dementia in and around Bristol are celebrating the launch of their debut beer amid hopes that sales of it will let others join them in gaining the benefits of gardening, brewing and social connections.
More than 150 residents of St Monica Trust’s retirement villages and care homes have taken part in planting, nurturing and harvesting the hops used to make the best bitter now being marketed as Hundred Not Out, in honour of the trust’s centenary.
The new brew results from sessions run by Hoppiness Brews, a Bristol-based community interest company which is pioneering ways to enrich the lives of elders and people with dementia by encouraging creativity, outdoor activity and healthy ageing.
Hoppiness Brews co-founder, Guy Manchester says: “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.”
Over 18s are being offered the chance to sample Hundred Not Out on Thursday 6 November (4pm – 7pm) at the Old Market taproom of Wiper and True, the Bristol-based brewery used to convert the hops into beer.
Wiper and True’s founder Michael Wiper says: "Brewing Hundred Not Out together has been a real celebration of community and creativity. It’s an absolute privilege to see how beer can bring people together across generations and make such a positive impact.”
The taproom will be serving the brew on tap at the launch as well as in 440ml cans and will be selling the cans via its online shop: https://wiperandtrue.com/.
Other outlets are also being sought with any profits from sales being reinvested by Hoppiness Brews into expanding its work with care homes, hop gardens and brewing partnerships in and around Bristol and across the South West.
Among the places involved with the project are St Monica Trust care and retirement sites in Keynsham, Westbury-on-Trym, Sandford and Bedminster, with extra hops coming from care homes in Filton, Redland and Soundwell, and from Alive Activities’ dementia-friendly allotments.
Project participant Caroline Drewell says: “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”.
St Monica Trust chief executive David Williams added: "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.”
To stay up to date with Hoppiness Brews news, follow @hoppinessbrews on Instagram or sign up for the free e-newsletter via the website: hoppinessbrews.com/.
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NOVEMBER 6 LAUNCH INVITATION
You will be most welcome to attend the beer’s Thursday 6 November launch event (4pm – 7pm) and get a free sample of HUNDRED NOT OUT. To book a place, please email info@hoppinessbrews.com . Pre or post launch deliveries of a 440ml can may also be possible. To enquire, please contact glyn.rhys.owen@gmail.com providing your preferred delivery address.
NOTES FOR EDITORS
Hoppiness Brews (www.hoppinessbrews.com) is a community-led brewing project that brings older adults, including those living with dementia, together to grow hops and co-produce beer with. Through sensory engagement and shared creativity, the initiative promotes purpose in ageing and community connection.
St Monica Trust (www.stmonicatrust.org.uk) is a Bristol-based charity providing high-quality care, housing, and support for older people. Founded in 1925, the Trust has spent a century reimagining ageing through innovation, compassion and community spirit.
MEDIA QUERIES
For more info/ interviews/ sample cans, please contact:
Isobel Jones | 07967 040 956 | isobel@aliveactivities.org
Ben Jailler | 07964 920 846 | ben.jailler@stmonicatrust.org.uk
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