Royal visit to Otter Brewery
TRH The Earl & Countess of Wessex at Otter Brewery
Devon’s leading brewery yesterday hosted the TRH The Earl and Countess of Wessex for a tour of the business.
The Queen’s youngest son Prince Edward celebrated his 50th birthday in March and to mark the occasion was undertaking a number of royal engagements in the South West centred around visiting rural businesses.
Arriving by helicopter, the couple were met by three generations of the McCaig family before being introduced to members of the office team.
A hands on trip of the brew house had been organised with the Prince and his wife stopping to taste the malt, ask questions and chat to the brewers about the different processes and beers. After the brewery, the group were escorted down to the Eco Cellar by Patrick and David McCaig for a tour and demonstration of how the state of the art building works.
The visit was rounded off by a presentation of gifts from both the family and from the staff’s children in the Green Shed, culminating in a quick taste of Otter Amber and Otter Bitter poured by Senior Sales Rep Luke Roberts.
Patrick McCaig commented: “What a day for the brewery! The Earl and Countess were charming and very interested in what we do here. Infact both wanted to try filling one of the casks so we happily let them. Our whole family (and it is a large family!) were here to meet them as well as some of our staff’s children. They finished their trip with a quick taste in the bar and then it was back in to the sky again.”
After Otter Brewery the next stop was at Quickes Cheeses at Newton St. Cyres in Mid Devon.
