A reaction between nitric acid and aluminium, creating fumes described in local press reports as an “orange coloured fog”, caused the incident, Bath Ale’s parent company St Austell Brewery said.
“On Thursday morning (12 July), the emergency services were called to Hare Brewery in Warmley to investigate an incident that had taken place during a routine cleaning operation,” said St Austell in a statement.
Evacuated
“25 members of staff were evacuated from the building quickly. Three members of staff were treated on site on the scene as a precaution.
“A small non-toxic chemical spillage was contained within the building and there was no danger to local residents. The incident was dealt with in line with instructions from the fire service and our own on site health and safety protocols. Bath Ale’s staff are now back in the brewery and continuing with business as normal.”
A spokeswoman for South Western Ambulance Service National Health Service Foundation Trust (SWASFT) told Food Manufacture no patients had been taken to hospital as a result of the incident. However, they had been advised to seek further treatment if conditions worsened.
‘Breathing difficulties’
At the time, SWASFT issued the following statement: “SWASFT were called at 9.49 to Southway Drive, paramedics are treating three patients at the scene for breathing difficulties.”
In February, Food Manufacture reported that Hare Brewery, which reopened in May after a makeover, had fitted 12 new fermenting vessels in a multi-million pound investment programme aimed at doubling its capacity. Off the back of the changes, the plant would have the capability to produce 50,000 brewer's barrels of beer a year, the company claimed.
In addition to a new brewhouse, the overhaul included the installation of a lauter tun, which would enable it to brew a lager for the first time.
Hare Brewery, which is situated at Warmley between Bristol and Bath, is owned by Bath Ales, which was bought by St Austell in 2016.
Bath Ale’s beers include Gem, Lansdown and Prophecy.