A COUPLE of centuries ago, when the lords and ladies in their country houses wanted drinks for their guests, they didn’t send the butler galloping on his horse down to the pub.

Neither did they despatch a pair of footmen in a carriage with instructions to bring back a few crates of Old and Disgusting.

Likely as not, the staff would only have to pop into the back rooms of the mansion.

“Most large country houses in the 17th, 18th and 19th-centuries had their own breweries because the drinking water was too dangerous to drink,” said Andrew McCallum. “For a long time the standard drink was ale and if you were wealthy enough you could make your own. Or, more accurately, have it made for you.”

This was the appealing historical snippet that gave retired Army officer Andrew a bright idea.

He approached the National Trust to suggest that in the interests of authenticity might not it be a good thing if they put small breweries back into those of their houses that used to have them.

Andrew said: “Unfortunately, I was informed none of the Natiional Trust’s properties in the West Midlands have the space.”

Nil desperandum. Plan B appeared and the trust has converted a derelict agricultural building into a micro-brewery on its Brockhampton estate near Bromyard.

“The brewery is in an old threshing barn that has been converted to my specifications to allow the brewing equipment to be installed,” Andrew added.

“It’s on an old farm that used to grow hops and still has a pair of old kilns. The location couldn’t be better.”

The plant has a six-barrel brew length and is capable of producing 24 casks of real ale at a time.

To date two real ales are being produced under the brand of the Willoughby Brewing Company.

Tried and Trusted is a traditional amber coloured ale at 4.2 per cent ABV and Trust Gold, a light golden ale at 3.8 per cent ABV.

The Tried and Trusted is a hoppy beer with a long bitter taste and the Trust Gold is hoppy and full-flavoured – just perfect for summer evening quaffing, according to its brewer. Andrew said: “All the ingredients used are sourced locally. No chemicals are added in the brewing process, producing traditional real ales or as we say, ‘putting the real into real ale’. All the brewery by-products such as spent grain and hops are recycled to pigs on the estate.

“The brewery has been designed with a viewing platform to allow visitors to see and have the brewing process explained to them. It is planned to include the brewery on the tours of the estate, although I am also happy to take tours from interested parties.”

The Willoughby Brewing Company is currently supplying ale to a few local pubs and it has been sold at local festivals, galas and shows. Andrew is currently procuring bottling equipment and he will be bottling in the near future.

Marketing material is also being produced and the plan is to start marketing in and around Worcester as soon as possible.

Andrew said: “As a retired Army officer (he was in the Grenadier Guards) my background is a military one with an interest in brewing, and especially the final product, going back many years.

“Having helped in a few micro-breweries in the past, I gained a working knowledge of the brewing process. However, I have now attended brewing courses to formalise this knowledge.”

In due course he hopes to expand his range of beers and is looking for names with a country house, military or National Trust flavour. Any offers?