Gallery
Back in the heady days of 2013, Tom Norton, an Edwardstone brewer of Mill Green Brewery, and I created and brewed a beer.
We were inspired by my popular and lovely friend Caroline who had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer when six weeks pregnant. Many of her supporters raised money in a variety of ways, including ultra-marathons and beetle drives. Not one for donning Lycra, I ditched those ideas in exchange for a mash ton and a fermenter. We called the resulting beer, “Lady’s Smock” a beautiful wild meadow flower with apparent healing properties. An apt name for a beer brewed and inspired by ladies.
Donations from sale of the beer went to a breast cancer charity and, along with fundraising activities, were more than £2,000.
Very sadly, Caroline lost her battle with cancer just a couple of months ago. For her funeral, her husband asked for donations to be made to the Willow Foundation, instead of flowers: the foundation gives seriously ill young adults special days out with friends or family.
It seemed appropriate that another batch of “Lady’s Smock” be brewed with donations to the Willow Foundation in Caroline’s memory.
As well as being for sale in local pubs, “Lady’s Smock” will also be available at the LeeStock Music Festival to be held at Melford Hall on 23/24 May this year. Tickets for which may be bought here.
I’m back in the brewery on Thursday, so watch this space for updates.
