Chorlton, Manchester, December 2024 — Tūn Brewing Company Ltd., the latest addition to Manchester's vibrant craft beer scene, is excited to announce its official launch. Founded by Richard Alston, Tūn Brewing Company is the result of years of passion, perseverance, and a desire to bring a new perspective to the UK’s drinking culture.

Brewing with a Purpose: Crafting Community and Connection
The name "Tūn" reflects two key inspirations. Tūn is an Old English word for settlement or community, a nod to the connections beer can foster. This word lives on in the suffix "-ton," found in the names of many British places, including our home in Chorlton, Manchester. Secondly, "Tun" is the name given to the brewing vessels, such as a mash tun or lauter tun, that are essential in the creation of beer. Together, these meanings represent our vision: to create beers that bring people together while honouring the craft of brewing. “We’re not just about brewing great beer,” says founder Richard Alston. “We’re about creating spaces where people can connect, share stories, and make memories. Craft beer is just the beginning.”

Launch Lineup Begins with Archetype
Tūn Brewing Company’s debut beer, Archetype, is a Modern English IPA that celebrates the best of British hops with a fresh, balanced flavour profile.

The Future: Contract Brewing and Taproom Plans
While Tūn Brewing Company has ambitious plans to open its own brewery and taproom in Chorlton, it is currently contract brewing, also known as "shadow brewing." This approach allows the brewery to overcome the significant barriers to entry in the brewing industry, where high equipment costs can be prohibitive for new players.
“Contract brewing is a model used by other great Manchester breweries like Burton Road Brewery, Shindigger, and Balance Brewing,” explains Alston. “I develop the recipes on my pilot kit, and then we partner with an excellent brewery to scale up production. We trust our partner to bring our recipes to life while maintaining the quality we strive for.”
With plans to establish its own brewery and taproom in the next 12-18 months, Tūn Brewing Company is ready to make its mark on the UK craft beer industry.

About Tūn Brewing Company
Richard, a psychiatrist by training, has spent years observing the complexities of this country's drinking culture. While there is much to celebrate, he believes this is a pivotal moment to redefine our relationship with alcohol. Drinking with purpose—to connect, to celebrate, and to savour—can foster healthier habits and deeper enjoyment, moving beyond the culture of drinking to excess.

Brewing has been a part of Richard’s life since his teenage years when he first discovered the joy of creating beer. Over time, this hobby took a back seat, but more recently, he revisited it as a creative outlet during his own mental health challenges. Brewing offered him a sense of fulfilment and focus, and it reignited his long-held dream of opening a microbrewery. Today, he is proud to turn that dream into reality with Tūn Brewing Company.