They planted, nurtured and harvested hops used to make their debut drinkPete Gavan Senior Editor and SWNSFilipaGaspar (Filipa Gaspar)
09:35, 05 Nov 2025
The beer is a big hit with residents
A group of Bristol residents living with dementia have brewed up a storm, launching their own beer named ‘Hundred Not Out’. Over 150 residents from St Monica Trust’s retirement villages and care homes across the city have been involved in the process, planting, nurturing and harvesting the hops used to create their inaugural brew.
The project is the brainchild of Hoppiness Brew, a local community interest company dedicated to enhancing the lives of older people and those with dementia. Photos reveal the residents tending to their hop gardens and savouring the fruits of their labour.
The hope is that sales from the beer will enable more individuals to experience the therapeutic benefits of gardening, brewing and social interaction. Guy Manchester, co-founder of Hoppiness Brews, said: “We’ve been able to involve local care home and retirement village residents, their families and care teams in the full brewing journey – from nurturing hops in gardens to deciding on the name of the finished beer.”
Harvesting the hops
He added: “Along the way, we’ve delivered therapeutic multi-sensory activity sessions for residents with a diagnosis of dementia which, as well as fostering socialisation and a sense of identity, have also triggered happy memories of earlier get-togethers, including in a place most of us visit at some time in our lives – the pub.”
Care homes and retirement villages across Bristol have joined forces in an innovative brewing project that has seen residents harvest hops to create a special centenary beer.
A resident raising a glass
St Monica Trust facilities in Keynsham, Westbury-on-Trym, Sandford and Bedminster have taken part in the initiative, with additional hops sourced from care homes in Filton, Redland and Soundwell, plus Alive Activities’ dementia-friendly allotments.
Further outlets are being pursued, with all proceeds from sales being ploughed back by Hoppiness Brews to expand its partnerships with care homes, hop gardens and breweries throughout Bristol and the wider South West region.
Project participant Caroline Drewell remarked: “For me it was the joy of seeing residents from our villages and care homes busily picking hops together.
A can of Hundred Not Out
“It didn’t matter how many you picked or how fast, everyone was contributing and helping each other, with plenty of laughter and chatting”.
Adults aged 18 and over can taste Hundred Not Out on Thursday between 4pm and 7pm at Wiper and True’s Old Market taproom, the Bristol-based brewery that transformed the hops into beer.
The venue will be serving the ale on draught at the launch event as well as in 440ml cans.
Checking out the produce
St Monica Trust chief executive David Williams remarked: “It has been a real pleasure watching both the hops and our residents of all abilities, flourishing through their involvement with Hoppiness Brews.
“Hundred Not Out embodies the spirit of connection, contribution and choice that underpins everything we do and it is the perfect brew with which to toast our 100 years of caring.”