Probably the best resident-brewed beer in the world

The residents’ beer, Hundred Not Out has been brewed to celebrate the Trust’s centenary and was launched at a special HopsFest event at Cote Lane on Saturday 18 October.

The centenary beer was brewed from hops planted, grown and harvested by residents living in the Trust’s retirement villages and care homes, as part of Hoppiness Brews.

"Ten out of ten"

Residents of all abilities, especially those who are living with dementia, took part in a series of activity workshops throughout the year, which also included designing, naming and marketing the finished product.

Garden House Care Home residents even wrote an individual care plan for the hops and held a handbell ringing concert in the grounds to ‘wake’ the hops when they were first planted.

Westbury Fields Resident, Caroline Drewell said: “For me it was the joy of looking across the table and seeing residents from our villages and care homes busily picking hops together.

"It didn’t matter how many you picked or how fast, everyone was contributing and helping each other, with plenty of laughter and chatting.

“Best of all, it’s so rewarding to have this lovely beer to show for our efforts and I know what my friends and family will be getting for Christmas this year. Ten out of ten for St Monica Trust and Alive Activities for coming up with such a clever idea.”

Hoppiness Brews

Hoppiness Brews is a Community Interest Company born out of a collaboration between the St Monica Trust and Alive Activities, and supported this year by local brewer, Wiper and True.

The St Monica Trust’s Head of Innovation Delivery, Sean Davey said: “Hoppiness has been an amazing journey from planting the hops earlier in the year, to harvesting them with residents and our collaboration with Wiper and True”.

“On a personal level it was really emotional taking the bags of hops to the brewery and pouring them into the giant vat, knowing all love, time and effort that our residents and gardening team have put in to growing them.”

"Creativity, inclusion and promoting healthy ageing activities"

Alive Activities Project Manager, Guy Manchester said: "Hoppiness originated from a simple yet powerful idea: to combine gardening, brewing and shared memories to enrich lives, especially for people living with dementia.

“The project empowers residents to take part in the full brewing journey, while fostering creativity, inclusion and promoting healthy ageing activities.”

Michael Wiper, Founder of Wiper and True said: "When we first heard about Hoppiness Brews, we were inspired by the residents’ enthusiasm and hands-on approach.

"Brewing Hundred Not Out together has been a real celebration of community and creativity. It’s an absolute privilege to see how beer can bring people together across generations and make such a positive impact.”

Spreading Hoppiness

Hoppiness Brews was created to show how older people of all abilities can contribute to their communities and learn new skills, as well as sharing their own knowledge and expertise.

Sean Davey said: “We want older people living in care homes and retirement villages across the UK to be able to experience the same benefits as our own residents of brewing and marketing their own beer.

“The idea is to package Hoppiness Brews in such a way that it can be used by anyone, irrespective of the amount of outdoor space they have available, the size of the care home or the organisation’s financial resources.”