A MINI BREWERY could be established on a Dorset farm site.

Dorset Council is considering a planning application for the development at Patson Hill Farm, Hill Lane at Trent.

The Ferris family is asking to use an existing field, last used as a paddock, to site the brewery building with an associated car parking area which will provide space for an additional 12 vehicles.

A planning application to the council suggests that six jobs could be created at the Apex Brewery which will be in operation from 8am until 6pm every day of the week.

Details submitted to the council say that Mrs Alex Ferris will be the head brewer after 14 years of home brewing during which time a number of awards have been won with the beer being served in local pubs including the Mitre Inn, Sandford Orcas; the Digby Tap in Sherborne and the Queen’s Arms, Corton Denham.

Said a planning agent in the application: “The proposed new brewery building will give Alex and Apex Brewery the room required to continue growing and creating a greater range of beers and expanding their business to serve the local area and beyond. The proposed building has been designed with a balance of traditional agricultural construction materials with modern elements to complement the local area and the business needs. The internal layout for the building includes; the main brewery with production line, plant room, cold store and keg store with a mezzanine floor to house a small office and welfare area with necessary space for forklifts to move in and around the building.”

In addition to supplying local pubs the brewery also intends to sell cans of beer online.

The steel-framed building, 42x18x6 metres, will be clad in timber and has been chosen to appear much the same as other farm buildings. A landscaping plans says that the site will use bee-friendly wildflowers and up to a hundred apple trees, planted in an old orchard site close to the proposed brewery building.

Water for the brewery is likely to be drawn from a borehole on the site.

The Apex Brewery website currently lists half a dozen beers ranging from a rye beer to a red IPA, a dark IPA and a Porter.

Public comments on the planning application remain open until November 24th – ref 2023/03661 on the Dorset Council website.