Alnwick Brewery delivers goodie bags to key workers following USA donation

A brewery which has given away nearly 5,000 pints of cask ale has also hand delivered luxury care packages to those working on the frontline.
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Nearly 80 cases of the ale, which has a shelf life of around two months, have so far been given away, after scores queued with plastic bottles to collect the alcohol.

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As a result of news coverage the brewery was subsequently surprised by a benefactor from Washington DC who donated £400 towards creating goodie bags, stuffed with local luxury products, for key workers.

Darren Spencer of The Alnwick Brewery Company. Picture: North News and PicturesDarren Spencer of The Alnwick Brewery Company. Picture: North News and Pictures
Darren Spencer of The Alnwick Brewery Company. Picture: North News and Pictures

Twenty-five packages filled with fudge, cakes, beer, hand sanitiser and local treats, have now been hand delivered.

Brewery sales executive Darren Spencer, 51, said: “The first visit was a postman, the last one was a supermarket worker.

“All of the products in the bags were made locally so we were also supporting local businesses as well.

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Northumberland biscuits, fudge from a small business, a few local mixers, ginger ale and tonics and a local gin company that has made some sanitiser.

Goodie bags are presented to key workers. Picture: North News and PicturesGoodie bags are presented to key workers. Picture: North News and Pictures
Goodie bags are presented to key workers. Picture: North News and Pictures

“We stretched the whole £400 as much as we could.

“To give back to the community is phenomenal, our first couple of visits this morning, all of these families were in tears because it is quite touching.

“There has been a huge increase in community spirit.”

The beer giveaway has been held every Friday, for the last four weeks, with the fourth falling on VE Day and has seen around 1,000 pints handed out every time.

The Alnwick Brewery Company has given away nearly 5,000 pints of cask ale in exchange for a donation to the NHS. Picture: North News and PicturesThe Alnwick Brewery Company has given away nearly 5,000 pints of cask ale in exchange for a donation to the NHS. Picture: North News and Pictures
The Alnwick Brewery Company has given away nearly 5,000 pints of cask ale in exchange for a donation to the NHS. Picture: North News and Pictures

The company has now raised around £1,500 for the NHS.

Darren, from Alnwick, added: “The queue on VE Day was approximately 50 to 60 metres long as everyone had to keep a safe two metres apart.

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“There were 20 or 30 people waiting at any time, of course it was VE day and people would have been sitting in their garden as there are no pubs open.”

A message from the Editor:

Queues for free beer from the Alnwick Brewery. Picture: North News and PicturesQueues for free beer from the Alnwick Brewery. Picture: North News and Pictures
Queues for free beer from the Alnwick Brewery. Picture: North News and Pictures

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