Time has been called on the Hooded Ram Brewery - with Covid-19 forcing the operation to be mothballed for the foreseeable future.

The brewery, based on Leigh Terrace Douglas, has been shut since lockdown on March 27.

It announced on Facebook on Monday: ’Unfortunately Hooded Ram Brewery will not be reopening, we have just been informed.

’Hope you all enjoyed the beers whilst we have been brewing over the past year.’

Hooded Ram spokesman Jim Brookman held out the prospect of the brewery reopening at some point in the future.

He said: ’The directors of the Hooded Ram Brewery have taken the difficult decision not to reopen the Hooded Ram Brewery since closing the brewery due to the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic.

’Given the nature of Covid-19 and the uncertainty of how long the virus will impact our daily lives both in the Isle of Man and those of our customers within the UK, we will be mothballing the brewery operations for the foreseeable future and will revisit the business at a sometime in the future when business can operate in a more sustainable market.’

He added: ’The Hooded Ram has developed many award-winning beers and a loyal customer base both here in the island and also in the UK and further afield.

’We look forward to being able to start brewing again and continuing to build upon the brand in the future.’

Head brewer Mike Cowbourne confirmed he and the second member of staff at the brewery were now out of a job.

Founded by Rob Storey, the Hooded Ram Brewing Company was launched in 2013. It won a CAMRA award the following year, followed by Great Taste Awards and World Beer Awards.

In 2016 businessman Raj Chatha injected investment in the company and in August of that year, the first Hooded Ram pub opened in Clinch’s on North Quay, Douglas.

Its beer went on to be stocked in Oddbins stores throughout England and Scotland and in April 2017 the first Hooded Ram pub in the UK opened in Wolverhampton.

The brewery was originally based in an unit at the Hills Meadow industrial estate but moved to the Shepherd’s Lodge site on Leigh Terrace in July 2017.

Mr Cowbourne took over as head brewer after resigning from Heron and Brearley- the company behind Okell’s Ales - in October 2018, after almost 40 years in charge of the Okell’s brand.

Hooded Ram pulled its plans for a TT tent in March this year, just before the lockdown and before it was announced that this year’s races would be cancelled.

Its application had been highly praised and approved by the licensing court - in contrast to its failed bid the previous year.

Mr Cowbourne has since applied for planning permission to operate a brewery business and to distribute beer to public houses from his address in Port Soderick.