Croydon’s first brewery for more than 50 years is having a debut year to remember.

The Cronx Brewery, set up by friends Simon Dale and Mark Russell, started brewing their first beers back in August 2012 in a industrial unit in New Addington.

They have since gone on to have three main ales, their Standard, Kotchin and Entire, as well as a host of special one off beers such as their Chilli Porter.

Their beers have been picked up by an array of pubs in South London as well as being sold on matchdays at Crystal Palace football club, a dream come true for the duo who are both fervent Palace supporters.

The pair are now in the process of building a bar in the brewery and are planning to launch some new beers in the near future.

Last week Croydon Guardian reporter Andrew Bloss visited the Cronx Brewery to find out if brewing beer is as fun as drinking it.

 

Your Local Guardian:

Mark and Simon weigh out the hops

Your Local Guardian:

Simon Dale cleans out the mash tank

Your Local Guardian:

The beer is transferred into the fermentor, it will stay in there for a week

Your Local Guardian:

Mark Russell in the cold store, where the ales are kept in casks before they are sent out to pubs

Your Local Guardian:

Bags of malt prepared for the next brew

Croydon Guardian reporter Andrew Bloss cleans out the kettle tank

Mark and Simon explain how the beer is brewed

The Cronx brewers talk about the future