'It's with a tear in my eye' - Yet another Greater Manchester brewery forced to close its doors due to cost of living crisis

A Stockport brewery which collaborated with Stockport County FC has been forced to close down, it has said, citing the ongoing cost of living crisis. Thirst Class Ale produced craft beers from its facility in Reddish, and also teamed up with other local breweries like Burton Road, Torrside and Quantum Brewing.

But it has now become the latest casualty of the crisis facing the brewing industry. Owner and head brewer Richard Conway made the announcement with a thread on Twitter. “It is with a tear in my eye and a heavy heart that I make the following announcement. I have made the tough decision to close Thirst Class Ale over the coming months,” he said.

“When I decided to open a brewery back in 2015 it was with a sense of enthusiasm and optimism and most of the last eight years have been a joyous and rewarding experience. As a brewery, we've seen many highs - we've had our beers in amazing venues across the UK, been invited to amazing beer festivals and events and won various awards.

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“We've also had the chance to team up with other great breweries, bars, bottle shops, cinemas and even the great Stockport County FC to brew some fantastic collaboration beers. However, the trials of the coronavirus pandemic and the current cost of living situation have made trading conditions tough, and I'm finding it increasingly difficult to carve a living in what was already a difficult industry to begin with.

“After much soul searching I've decided now is the time to wind things down and start a new adventure. Although I'm not sure what that will be as yet!

“I'd like to thank the great people who have worked with me over the years, especially Peter, Mark, Duncan,