20/05/2026
The report from our May meeting:
Aston-by-Stone W.I.
Hops Galore…
Taking hops from all around the World, the very best English malted barley and years of Ian Bradbury’s “know How” combine to make the tasty beer locally brewed at the Award Winning, Lymestone Brewery. We were able to taste the barley – a little like breakfast cereal and generate oil from the hops before trying the delicious finished product - which proved to be extremely popular and definitely enhanced our May meeting.
We tasted the much admired and gluten free Stone Faced beer and learned that in order to be classed as gluten free the beer has to contain a minimum of 20 parts per million. Stone Faced manages to achieve just 10 parts per million making it ideal for anyone with a serious gluten allergy. This is just one of the many innovations, together with additional business ideas, that has helped Ian and his family business survive through these very difficult years.
For example, when cask ale was no longer in demand through Covid they both changed their production line from “Imperial” measures and increased their volumes by 700 bottles per day to meet the bottling plants requirements. Lymestone also have a great space for events – parties, National and International rugby screenings – Ian being a lifelong fan, player and member of Eccleshall rugby club. Indeed for his “special” birthday this year he is joining some long time American rugby playing friends for their own South America tour!
The innovative brand names most with a “Stone” theme helps put our lovely town on the UK beer map too – Stone Faced, Stone the Crows, Foundation Stone – to mention just a few. Indeed, the name was inventively derived by Ian’s lovely wife Viv back in 2008 combining Newcastle under LYME where they lived and Stone the home of the brewery.
Ian has now come full circle as MD & Master Brewer but also delivering orders in his 15 year old, eye catching, bright orange Fiat Panda across the region and further afield with the brewing in the capable hands of the next generation – his daughter Sarah and apprentice Hayden, who’s 21 next week, and who are both award winners themselves..
We were most grateful that Ian’s gran and mother-in-law were both life long members of local W.I.’s meaning that Ian was happy to give up some of his valuable free time in his extremely busy life to entertain us so splendidly.
The evening was rounded off with our usual tea / coffee and delicious cake, the raffle was drawn including a kindly donated gift pack of Lymestone beers!.
We have a very busy June planned, once again taking part in Stone’s Carnival Parade – keep an eye out for our Green and White T shirts and do come up to say hello or if you have any questions about joining our active and vibrant group.
We will be doing a Litter Pick June 6th as part of “The Great Big Green Week”, have our quarterly trip to the Garden Cinema in Blurton, a coach trip to The Houses of Parliament to round off our 100 Year celebrations and a visit to the New Vic to see Around the World in 80 Days, together with our Art class and Poetry groups’ regular get togethers.
Meeting at Aston Village Hall, on the second Wednesday each month, our speaker for June 10th is Katey Taylor from the Midlands Air Ambulance and in July we have our Annual Fashion Show – all are welcome.
If you are interested in joining the WI you can call 01785 615662 or contact us on our e-mail address [email protected] and visit our page. FB: Aston-by-Stone Women’s Institute
