Brewery marks occasion with book as new owners work on plans for Castletown site
It was 40 years ago this November that an ale, which would later become an instantly recognisable aspect of Manx life and symbol of the TT races, began being brewed in the basement of a Douglas pub.
Bushy's Ale first hit the pumps - or pump - in 1986, but its inception happened downstairs in what was Zhivago's Bar on Victoria Street in Douglas in the months prior.
"Old Bushy Tail" it was called, and you can still find it being poured and sold in pubs around the Island today.
Founder Martin Brunnschweiler says his family lived in the UK but often visited the Island through his father's work.
In the mid-80s his sister Nicky made the move to here and got the ball rolling on what would become Bushy's Brewery Pub.
Since then it's moved out of Victoria Street, opened the Rovers Return and The Bay, and hosted an annual beer tent during the Isle of Man TT Races for nearly thirty years.
To mark Bushy's 40th anniversary, Martin and author John Quirk have been putting together a book recounting the brewery's history, with input from fans and regulars from around the Island and further afield.
"I have to pinch myself, I can't believe it was 40 years ago that we did the first brew in the basement of the old pub." - Martin Brunnschweiler
Martin has been explaining to Dave Moore how Bushy's began, and the plans the new owners have up their sleeves as they take the brewery into its fifth decade:
The full interview with Martin will be broadcast on Manx Radio on 22 December at 5pm as an Island Life special.
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