A SOMERSET brewery is celebrating being awarded a specialist accreditation which recognises its high standards of hygiene, safety and quality.

Bishops Lydeard-based Quantock Brewery has received the SALSA plus beer standard, making it one of around 200 UK breweries to hold the accreditation, following its assessment by auditors.

To be awarded SALSA plus, breweries must demonstrate excellence in a wide range of areas including the brewing and bottling of beers, personal hygiene and cleaning standards, control of raw materials, prevention of contamination and cross contamination, and waste control.

Reacting to the new accreditation, managing director and co-founder Cheryl Ford said: “Getting confirmation that our team is consistently creating the perfect pint day in and day out is brilliant news.

“There aren’t many micro-breweries that have this accreditation, and it feels like we’ve achieved the brewing world’s equivalent of a Michelin star.

“It’s another way to demonstrate to our customers they can be confident buying our beer.

“As we start 2021, receiving the accreditation gives Quantock Brewery the opportunity to target larger national and international retailers, who regard SALSA plus as a crucial quality and compliance measure.”

The brewery, which was founded in 2007, has been based at Bishops Lydeard since 2015, opening a brewery shop and a taproom that hosts regular events, live music, comedy and a beer festival.

The taproom is currently closed, but the shop remains open in line with government guidance.

Article source – Somerset County Gazette