About 3 Rivers
Established by head brewer and managing director, Mike Hitchen, in 2003, the 3 Rivers Brewery is essentially a tribute to this one man’s determination to succeed and his passion for beer which began before he even started school.
Initially a micro brewery, designed to satisfy the needs of real ale enthusiasts locally, by supplying beers to nearby public houses, the emphasis was on quality right from the start. Industry awards and acclaim from drinkers generated rapid growth, surpassing even the most optimistic sales forecasts in the first year. A move to bigger premises, the creation of over 20 different cask beers and expansion into more of the region’s tied and free pub trade was followed by export success and the exploitation of growing demand for bottle conditioned bitters.
A growing reputation for excellence and the renowned, exacting, personal touch of the principals saw the brewery entering into partnerships with more free houses, larger independent pub chains, national licensed retail estates and, more latterly, off-licenses, clubs, supermarkets and sporting venues.
Developing its operations to include a private members club, brewery tours and merchandising, the production of specialist festival ales, importing and exporting cask and bottled beers and own-label brewing for private clients, the expertise concentrated within the business has helped launch around a dozen other breweries – all over the world.
Still run by a small but dedicated team of real ale advocates and bucking the trend for a decline in beer sales, by increasing its volumes by around 25% year on year to currently produce around 2,000 gallons a week, 3 Rivers has recently installed a state of the art bottling line embarking upon even more ambitious plans to expand the business further. But only if the superior quality of the beer can be maintained. And that is a promise!
The Top Team
Mike Hitchen
Stockport-born Mike began working in the pub trade as a child in the seventies, helping out in his Aunt’s cellar. He entered the brewing industry proper in the early eighties, employed as a cellar inspector by Fuller, Smith and Turner Ltd in London. Over 12 years he threw himself into learning every aspect of the brewing trade, becoming responsible for monitoring beer quality nationwide and achieving his Institute of Brewing Diploma.
A four year stint as a trade brewer, for Joseph Holt Ltd in Manchester, ended in 2000 when Mike fulfilled his long standing ambition to move into education, lecturing in brewing and pub management at St Helens College. Whilst there, he produced prize winning ales culminating in his triumph over large national brewers in the UK-wide Beauty Of Hops Awards.
In 2003, Mike established the 3 Rivers Brewery, brewing just 72 gallons of beer per week. Quickly winning more awards with some of his very first brews, order volumes increased and bigger premises were required. The rest, as they say, is history……in the making!
Dave Sherring
A lifelong beer connoisseur, Dave spends his working days indulging his passion for the technical side of brewing.
