The story behind the label

It’s been a busy 18 months at Bowland Brewery, not only have they relocated to become part of the exciting redevelopment of Holmes Mill in Clitheroe but they’ve also scooped multiple awards for their great tasting beer including being the winner of the 2016 Lancashire Producers & Makers Award.

Although the Bowland Brewery has being brewing beers for over 12 years prior to the move to Holmes Mill the new team felt that the various beer brands didn’t really reference the brewery’s providence. With this in mind artist Clare Brownlow was commissioned to create unique artwork for the core beers that would better link them to the Bowland location. Using pheasant feathers she painted four animals with links to the area– a hen harrier, pheasant, deer and wild boar- which now grace the bottles, beer clips and indeed the walls of the Beer Hall at Holmes Mill. The new artwork has proved to be a massive hit with sales increasing as a result.

In March 2016 Bowland Brewery entered into a partnership with the RSPB to help fund conservation to halt the decline in breeding hen harriers. They did this by agreeing to donate 1p from every pint of hen harrier sold across the bar and every bottle sold through retailers to the hen harrier conservation project. Heidi Kettle, Group Marketing Manager added “It’s a great way to spread the word about our fabulous beers, Hen Harrier our flagship ale, and the beautiful part of the kingdom that they come from to an international audience.”

No doubt reading this article has made you a tad thirsty. You can taste Bowland Beers yourself at a variety of pubs and inns across the north of England (see the beer finder on bowlandbrewery.com), and can buy Bowland bottled beer from selected branches of Booths, Co-op and SPAR supermarkets.

This article featured in the 2017 Lancashire Visitor Magazine. Read the guide below or order a copy