Held every Wednesday and Saturday
on Truro's Lemon Quay
9am - 4pm
The Driftwood Spars Brewery is a thriving coastal microbrewery, knocking out exceptional hand-crafted beer at Trevaunance Cove, St Agnes.
We love the way this brewery is balancing tradition and innovation, charting an independent course through the crowded beer market. Plus all their beers are gluten free – good to know!
We’re lucky enough to have the brewery stall at market every Wednesday, selling bottles, cans and minikegs of the freshest brews. Meanwhile, back at the cove, Head Brewer Mike and second-in-command Tim painstakingly oversee every single small batch. From modern hoppy IPAs to velvety milk stouts, there’s something for everyone to enjoy…
How did it all start?
The brewery is sister-operation to famous St Agnes brewpub, The Driftwood Spars. Landlady Louise Treseder started working alongside Founding Brewer Pete Martin in 2007; his independent, pioneering spirit is the cornerstone of the brewery and lives on today.
Pete won multiple awards for his beers and, amongst other achievements, he discovered a way of making all his beers gluten free without stripping out any of their character. Pete sadly passed away in 2020 at the age of just 57, but the brewery continues to emulate his approach.
In 2020, Mike Mason joined as Head Brewer. He says: “Heading up a micro-brewery by the Cornish coast is a dream job for me, and I am so proud of the way things are evolving. There is an incredible legacy of brewing here at Trevaunance Cove – that’s a big motivation for us.”
What’s unique about the brewery?
You can hear the waves and taste the salt on the air from the door of this five barrel brewery. Mike and Tim brew in small batches, allowing them great control over quality and consistency. They use premium British malts and source the finest hops, increasingly choosing from a new-wave of English-grown hops as they are developed and perfected.
As Mike puts it: “We combine curiosity and experimentation with an understanding of, and respect for, the traditions of British brewing. We’re not slaves to fashion when it comes to beer styles, taking a fresh approach to everything from traditional bitters, to contemporary IPAs and revivalist porters.”
Sustainability is really important to this tight-knit team, as is community. The brewery donates a percentage of all profits from its Cove range of beers to Fathoms Free, a charity which dives to recover ghost fishing gear and other plastic from the ocean around the Cornish peninsula.
What should we expect from the beer?
The selection consists of a Classic Range, featuring long-standing favourites made to Pete’s original recipes, and the Cove Range – contemporary, canned craft beers for the modern palette. You’ll also find seasonal specials appearing at market and experimental pilot brews (more on this below).
Firm favourites with market regulars include Lou’s Brew – a light, hoppy golden IPA with citrus and grassy aroma, and Seaberry – a Cornish saison made using sea buckthorn berries.
What’s next?
In 2020, the brewery successfully Crowdfunded for a Pilot Brew Kit – a system which allows Mike, Louise and Tim to experiment, producing micro-batches of their meticulously handmade beers. Several of these microbrews have already been released and quickly snapped up, and many more are planned in the months ahead.
The team are also planning a series of collaborations with other breweries. Louise explains: “We love sharing ideas and expertise, and celebrating the achievements of fellow independent breweries. We’ve held some online, mini-beer festivals during the pandemic where we’ve showcased beers from all over the UK and beyond. We’d like to bring back proper beer festivals at some stage!”
Other than that, the brewery plans to continuing forging it’s own course, strengthening community ties and championing sustainability. “Putting sustainability and community at the heart of business is what’s needed right now,” says Mike. “For us, selling our beers face-to-face at Truro Farmer’s Market is a big – and enjoyable – part of that.”