Flick through the visitors book at the Leigh Sawmill Brewery and you read comments like “superb little brewery, love the pilsner” and “a beautiful setting, a lovely beer” or “Wheat beer – you could give the Germans lessons”. So as I talk to Peter Freckleton, who owns and runs the brewery with wife Decima, it is no wonder he proudly talks about their beer. As Peter said to me “ our focus is producing beer that people will enjoy, we are not doing this to win competitions” it was clear they are in this for the love of fine beer, not trophies.
In 1981 Peter and Decima moved to New Zealand from Hertfordshire, United Kingdom with no major plans to create a premium microbrewery. Peter always made some homebrew and recalls how difficult it was to find brewing equipment when he first arrived. It wasn’t until five years ago, during a chat with mates about the lack of businesses in Leigh, did their idea for the brewery take shape.
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