The Boredroom x Kerroo Brewing Company | Summer Beer Night Pop-up
Earlier this month, we continued our series of 'Beer Nights' with a special local twist. Although we're proudly based on Strand Street, we wanted to offer our community a different setting and a new selection of beers. Nestled in the seaside streets of Port Erin, Kerroo Brewing Company has quickly become our new favorite spot for enjoying a cold pint! With communal bench seating inside, an outdoor area perfect for gatherings, and a sheltered garden around the side, the taproom offers something unique compared to other establishments on the island.
We brought along a selection of pieces from well-loved brands, some exciting new ones, a trusty sale rail, and accessories to complete any outfit. Welcoming both familiar and new faces, we always love the opportunity to unwind, catch up with you all, and enjoy spending time with our community.
Not only did we have clothes for bagging, and beer for drinking, we were also joined by local legend Cal Rowe, who entertained us all night long!
So who are Kerroo and what do they do? I caught up with founders and brewers, Elizabeth Townsend and Nick Scarffe to hear all about the taproom and their brewing journey!
Where did Kerroo’s journey begin, and when did you start brewing?
Nick: “I’ve been home brewing for over a decade, having first developed an interest in the science behind making beer during my degree studying Biomedical Sciences at university in Leeds. Part of the reason we set up Kerroo was finding that modern beer styles like hazy, unrefined and unfiltered beers were not readily available on the Isle of Man, so I began making my own." Elizabeth: “I’ve been a beer enjoyer since my student days. I was lucky to have lived and worked in London during the ‘boom time’ of craft beer during my twenties, and moved back to the Isle of Man after the first Covid lockdowns where I found it hard to readjust to having very little choice when going to a typical Manx pub. Luckily things are moving in the right direction now, and the styles of beer we like are popping up all over the place!"
Can you briefly walk us through your brewing process?
Nick: “Each brew produces around 1000 litres of beer, which equates to about 1750 pints. So far we’ve made an oatmeal porter and a hazy pale ale, which have gone down really well with our taproom customers. Developing recipes is really interesting because so many factors influence the final product. The hops in particular add so many different flavour notes and aromas like stone fruits, tropical, citrus, pine. Ultimately the beer has four components - water, malt, hops and yeast - but there’s an infinite number of possible beers you can make out of those ingredients."
What inspired you to create your specific brews?
Elizabeth: “Ultimately we make beer styles we personally like to drink! I think people often misuse the word ‘hoppy’ when they really mean ‘bitter’ when articulating why they don’t like certain styles of beer, which I was definitely guilty of before we began this brewery journey together. Some of the best beers I’ve ever had have had the dankest, boldest hop flavours but with absolutely zero bitterness. It's similar to levels of spiciness in food, where it’s all about balancing flavour and heat: a really well-crafted pint can be something spectacular."
As we head into the autumn/winter season, what are you most looking forward to?
Elizabeth: “We’ve really enjoyed building our community over the last six months since we opened the taproom at Easter. Now it’s time to refocus on growing the brewery side, promoting our core beer line, and developing our brand across the island and overseas in the wider craft beer industry. We’re excited to be presenting our beers at the Women in Beer Festival in Edinburgh in October, a mentorship scheme which has been supporting me over the last twelve months. It’s been fantastic to make friends with other women and non-binary people in the brewing industry as we are underrepresented in brewing and brewery leadership roles."
Nick: “We’re keen to explore if other licensed establishments will stock our beer, which we can produce in cask, keg, can and bottle. Once we have a healthy stock of our core beer range, I’m looking forward to being a bit more creative and experimental with some limited edition beers.”
Make sure to visit the lovely folks at Kerroo Brewing Company on Droghadfayle Road, Port Erin, and follow them on Instagram at @kerroobrewing to stay in the loop. Keep up to date with all the latest happenings at The Boredroom by following us at @theboredroomstore on Instagram, or by dropping in to see us at 67 Strand Street, Douglas.
