News Release

24th March 2006

FAMILY BREWERY

Michael Fabricant today visited Quartz Brewery in Kings Bromley to meet the husband and wife team who have abandoned careers in big business to establish their own micro-brewery. "Having tried both Quartz Blonde and Quartz Crystal, I think their career change is well worth it!" exclaims Michael. "I will now recommend their beers be made available as guest beers in the House of Commons".

Julia and Scott Barnett first met in 1992 at the International Brewing Conference in Harrogate. It was love at first sight. They married in 1994 and both worked for major brewing companies in Birmingham and Burton until they decided to found 'QuartzBrewing' in the summer of 2005. Scott was originally educated at Strathclyde University where he studied electronics and computing and Julia has a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Warwick as well as the coveted Master of Brewing qualification.

Julia says "My aim is for our micro-brewery to expand organically throughout Staffordshire by word of mouth - by people who like our beer and its unique flavour and then spread the word. We want people to enjoy our beer and then, in a few years time, who knows what might happen".

Scott says "We want to be professional in everything we do - in our brewing and in our marketing. But we always want to maintain that personal touch with publicans and, indeed, with the customers who buy our beer".

Julia adds "I want people to change their expectations. Lager does not have to be tasteless and bitter does not have to be sharp and thin. European lagers have a distinct and full flavour and this is what we are aiming for in our real ale which combines the best of a lager and a bitter".

Having tried Quartz Crystal and Quartz Blonde, Michael Fabricant comments: "My personal favourite is the Blonde. It is just under 4%, looks like a lager, has the full and hoppy taste of a European lager, but the creaminess of a good Burton bitter. Once tried, I don't think drinkers would turn back to a regular lager or ale. The Blonde seems to combine the best of both worlds and I hope it will become more available in Lichfield and Burntwood pubs. I wish Julia and Scott well and I will now press the House of Commons to introduce Quartz Blonde and Quartz Crystal as guest ales in their bars."

The two photographs show Michael with Scott and Julia Barnett sampling their beer and Michael with Julia, a Master of Brewing, in their laboratory looking at their unique blend of hops.