By REBECCA DIXON rebecca.dixon@hexham-courant.co.uk

Published at 13:36, Thursday, 11 September 2008

BREWER of real ales Tom Hick has been shortlisted for Young Rural Entrepreneur of the Year after his success with the Allendale Brewing Company.

The 28-year-old has been running the brewery since February 2006 and he is now the main supplier for The Crown Inn at Catton, which his father resurrected.

Tom entered the competition being run by Field Magazine, but never dreamed that he would make it this far.

As a student, Tom studied zoology at university but it was his home brewing and not his academic abilities that most impressed his peers.

Tom said: “On occasions my friends told me my beer was quite good, so I thought if I could make good beer on a small scale why not make it a business.”

Tom decided to attend Sunderland University and do a master’s degree in brewing, before setting up his business in the old Allendale Brewery.

Tom was helped out financially by his father Jim and a grant from Defra, which enabled him to get the brewery up and running.

In three years he has gone from being the only paid employee to taking on five paid staff.

The team’s efforts have not gone unnoticed and the brewery won a prize at a recent fair.

The Macclesfield Beer Festival is run by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and attracts real ale brewers from all over the country.

Tom took the bronze award for Best India Pale Ale or Lager with his Golden Plover Beer.

Tom said: “It was great to get that award because it is the first recognition we have had for one of our beers.”

Since then, Tom has found out that he is the youngest entrant to be shortlisted for the Young Rural Entrepreneur prize, which is open to entrants under 35.

Tom went down to London on Tuesday for an interview and to give a presentation to the judging panel.

He is one of only five people shortlisted for the prize, which is a cash sum of £10,000.

Tom will attend a presentation ceremony in London on October 16, when the winner will be announced.

Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk