Home brewing kit sales surge during lockdown

3rd December 2020

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A home brew kit business based in Horam, East Sussex, is reporting record-breaking sales during lockdown with people having more time for hobbies and trying new things.

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Bev and Andy Toogood of AlmostOffGrid.com are seeing a huge increase in the demand for home brewing kits, ingredients and equipment. Their online shop, which was launched in October 2016, sells everything budding home brewers need to get started.

Horam is no stranger to brewing. The village was home to famous Sussex institution Merrydown Cider which had its factory there employing many local people. It closed in 2004 and the site was redeveloped for housing.

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The passion for brewing in the area is still evident with many of Almost Off Grid’s regular customers being former employees of the famous cider company. The company is also selling kits nationwide via its website and other on-line platforms.

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Co-founder of Almost Off Grid, a keen home brewer herself, Bev Toogood said: “We have been amazed by the dramatic increase in demand which our suppliers are just about keeping up with. We think part of the reason is that people have been indoors a lot more and fancy learning a new craft, plus more and more people are getting their old home brewing gear out of the loft and starting to brew beer, wine and cider again.

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“Customers returning to beer and wine making after many years are always pleasantly surprised at how far the craft has come. Modern beer and wine kits are easy to use and make delicious drinks. We’ve really enjoyed helping local people to discover this fun, low-cost hobby. When you can make a really nice beer for less than 50p a pint, and a very quaffable bottle of wine for less than £1 a bottle, you can’t go wrong.”

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As people start to think about gifts for Christmas, Almost Off Grid is expecting the surge in sales to continue with brewing kits making useful presents for friends and relatives.

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Bev and Andy share their love of making things from scratch in their blog which has advice on everything from making your own butter, yoghurt, haloumi cheese, liqueurs, wine and even acorn coffee. Their idea for the business stemmed from their life-long passion of growing and making their own food and drink.

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Almost Off Grid offers free click and collect for local customers, and free local delivery in the TN21 area as well as nationwide delivery. Their website can be found at www.AlmostOffGrid.com.

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ENDS

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For more information contact Suzi Christie suzi@blueberry-pr.co.uk  07590 591140