Alan Hinde (pictured) moved to Cornwall, from his home area of Crewe, with his family in November 2005 and set up Coastal Brewery, on Redruth's busy Cardrew Industrial Estate, in 2006. The business moved to larger premises on the same estate in 2009. A joiner with British Rail for 20 years, Alan got involved in running pubs with wife Audrey, during which time he became interested in real ale and the brewing process. The couple ran the well-known Borough Arms at Crewe for six years until 2005, and Alan brewed some beers on the premises, which proved very popular. While many come to full-time brewing via home brewing, Alan didn't take this route, instead helping commercial brewers before trying his hand at his own brews. “I just took to it,” says the modest brewer, who has earned lots of praise for beers that make particularly good use of hops. He cites among his biggest influences Stuart Elliot, head brewer at the Church End Brewery, in Nuneaton, Warwickshire. Although Alan has fond memories of Crewe and its people, the family fancied a change of scenery and Cornwall was about as different as you could get! With Coastal up and running, Genesis was the appropriately named first brew. After months of hard work a portfolio of tasty beers had been established, and a growing number of outlets were taking the beers. Some of the beers go out of county, notably up to the Midlands and North of England. Outlets include: The Wellington, Birmingham, a renowned city centre real ale haven with 15 handpumps; the Anchor Inn, Digbeth; the Waggon & Horses, Halesowen; the Bhurtphor, at Aston, near Crewe, which offers up to ten real ales at any one time; also Hops, in Crewe. Other notable pubs taking Coastal beers: the Crown Inn, Heanor; Dew Drop Inn, Ilkeston; Woodies, New Malden; Top Lock, in Chorley; Weavers Real Ale House, Kidderminster; The Royal Oak,Ellerdine Heath, and several in west London. In Cornwall, Coastal beers can often be found at The Star, Crowlas, an award-winning freehouse near Penzance, and the Blisland Inn, on Bodmin Moor. Also at the Star Inn at Vogue, as well as The Front and Beerwolf bar in Falmouth. In Devon, look out for the beers at the Bridge Inn, Topsham. A bottle shop and micopub, Cornwall Specialist Beer, has been opened next door to the brewery where you can sample several cask beers and the full range of Coastal bottled beers (when available). The bottle shop offers a comprehensive range of Belgian and American bottled beers, plus several other world beers and many rarities. Beers are also brewed for Steve Willmott's All Saints Brewery.