Lincoln Green Brewing Company captures the spirit of Nottinghamshire

It might be a relative newcomer to Nottinghamshire’s real ale scene but the Lincoln Green Brewing Company already has an army of loyal fans who have been enjoying its Robin Hood-inspired brews at pubs and beer festivals across the county.

The microbrewery, based in Hucknall, was set up just under two years ago by Anthony Hughes and his wife, Lynette and it takes its name from the colour worn by our legendary outlaw. Its beers, which have names such as Hood, Marian and Scarlett, pay also homage to the great story. Anthony began home brewing at a young age because it was something he'd watched his father do – but it was only when he took voluntary redundancy from his job in retail that he decided to start his own company. He says: “I came to Nottingham in 1998. My career meant that I moved around the country a lot but when I moved to Nottingham I fell in love with it.” In recent years, interest in real ale and craft beer has surged, with people of all ages enjoying the dizzying array of brews available in Nottinghamshire alone. “We have realised that beer is just as interesting as wine, if not more so,” said Anthony. “There are more flavour variations in real ale than in wine.” For Anthony the appeal of brewing lies in the fact that it is steeped in tradition and because it is both a science and an art form. He said: “We have been brewing for hundreds of years and the ingredients haven’t changed much over the years. But the quality of the malt has improved and we can now get hops from all around the world so there is more variety. “The processes are exactly the same; it’s just that we understand the processes better so we can do more. “In the artistic sense you put together a recipe for the beer but you also have to make sure it’s in perfect condition when it goes into the glass.”

Lincoln Green’s beers have already proved to be a hit with ale fans and went down a storm at various Beer Festivals.