National Brewery Centre facts for kids
The National Brewery Centre is a super interesting museum and fun place to visit in Burton upon Trent, England. It used to be called the Bass Museum of Brewing. This centre celebrates the long history of making beer, known as brewing, in Burton. You can see lots of cool exhibits that show how brewing techniques have changed over time. The centre also has a cafe, a look at the town's history, a collection of old vehicles, a small brewery, and even a group of amazing shire horses!
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Welcome to the National Brewery Centre!
The National Brewery Centre is a special place where you can learn all about the history of brewing. Brewing is the process of making drinks like beer. Burton upon Trent is famous for its brewing history, and this museum helps keep that story alive. It's a great spot for families and anyone curious about how things were made in the past.
What Can You Explore?
When you visit the National Brewery Centre, there's so much to see and do! It's not just about brewing; it's about the history of the town and the amazing animals that helped with the work.
Amazing Exhibits
The museum has many different exhibits. You can discover how brewing has changed from old ways to modern methods. There are also cool collections of historic vehicles. These vehicles were once used to deliver beer or help with other tasks around the brewery. It's like stepping back in time to see how things worked long ago.
Meet the Shire Horses
One of the most popular parts of the centre is the collection of shire horses. These are very large and powerful horses. In the past, shire horses were super important for breweries. They would pull heavy drays (carts) loaded with barrels of beer through the streets. You can often see these gentle giants up close and learn about their role in history.
See How Beer is Made
The centre also has a micro brewery. This is a small brewery where you can see how beer is made on a smaller scale. It helps visitors understand the different steps involved in the brewing process. It's a great way to learn about how ingredients like water, barley, hops, and yeast come together to create different drinks.
A Brief History of the Centre
The National Brewery Centre has an interesting story of its own. It wasn't always open!
Closure and Reopening
Back in 2008, the company that owned the centre, Coors, decided to close it. This was because it cost a lot of money to keep it running, about £1 million each year. The museum closed its doors on June 30, 2008. However, all the exhibits and attractions were carefully stored away. Everyone hoped that the museum could open again someday. A special group was formed to work on reopening it. Luckily, their hard work paid off! The museum reopened as the National Brewery Centre on May 1, 2010. It was officially reopened by The Princess Royal on September 21, 2010, which was a very special day.
