It's a humorous book set in the present in rural England. It's about a young couple that inherit a small independent brewery hopelessly out of date but with the best water supply for miles around. They know nothing about brewing but inherit along with the plant an old and very wise company retainer and his dog, who have been loyal to the plant and their late uncle since the year dot. The local, large, and very unpleasant soft drink company has their sights set on the brewery's water supply. The couple, learning more about their late uncle, decides to continue the business, to the chagrin of the opposition. Dirty work afoot in the vats.