| Industry | Alcoholic beverage |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1981 |
| Headquarters | , England |
| Products | Beer |
| Owner | James Hughes, Nick Dolan, Rupert Fraser |
| Website | http://www.woodfordes.co.uk/ |
Woodforde's Brewery is a brewery located on Slad Lane in the village of Woodbastwick, in the county of Norfolk, England.[1] The brewery produced its first commercial brew in 1981 from original brewery in the village of Drayton north east of Norwich. In 1996 the brewery's popular Wherry bitter became CAMRA Supreme Champion Beer of Britain.[1]
History
Good friends, Ray Ashworth and Dr David Crease, had been brewing their own beers since the 60s. The pair opened their very own brewery, and Woodforde's was born. Named after Parson James Woodforde who lived at Weston Longville an 18th Century Parson, whose diaries spoke of his love of good food and beer. As the demand for Woodforde's brews grew, so did the need for a larger space. Moving from Drayton near Norwich in 1989, a group of barns and listed farm buildings were found in Woodbastwick, a village in the Norfolk Broads. Here they have created after renovations, a brewery – where they can still be found today. In May 1992, The Fur & Feather Inn opened, built within a converted row of thatched cottages just steps from the brewery doors. With visitors making their way to Woodbastwick to sample brews for themselves, The Woodforde's Brewery Shop and Visitor Centre opened in 1995.
In 2007, they opened a sixty barrel capacity brewhouse as production continued to expand. Today, there are two brew houses, which run around the clock. In April 2016, the brewery announced that the business had been sold to a group of investors.[2] With three passionate people at the helm, they set their sights on taking Woodforde's far and beyond. By the end of 2017, Woodforde's was established as the largest brewery in Norfolk, producing over 20,000 barrels every year, with beers reaching fans across the country and around the globe.
At the beginning of 2018, Master Brewer Neil Bain returned after two years away and takes his place as Head Brewer. In April 2018, Woodforde's partnered with Marks & Spencer to produce their British Lager which is available in cans across the UK.
Tied houses
The brewery has one tied house, in the county of Norfolk. The brewery itself has a Brewery tap called the Fur & Feather situated next to the brewery in the village of Woodbastwick.
Beers
| Beer | ABV | Style | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wherry | 3.80% | Bitter | All Year |
| Norfolk Nog | 4.60% | Old Ale | All Year |
| Nelson's Revenge | 4.50% | Special Bitter | All Year |
| Bure Gold | 4.30% | Golden | All Year |
| Reedlighter | 4.20% | Pale Ale | All Year |
| Norada | 4.30% | IPA | All Year |
| Headcracker | 7.00% | Barley Wine | Occasional Bottling |
| Once Bittern | 4.00% | Bitter | Regional Exclusive |
| Mardler's Mild | 3.50% | Mild | Regional Exclusive |
| Sundew | 4.10% | Golden | Seasonal |
| Admiral's Reserve | 5.00% | Strong Ale | Seasonal |
| Tinsel Toes | 4.40% | Dark Bitter | Seasonal |
| Simcoe Pale Ale | 3.60% | Session Ale | Seasonal |
| West Coast Wherry | 4.30% | Amber Ale | Seasonal |
| Red Admiral | 4.00% | Red Rye | Seasonal |
| Volt | 4.50% | IPA | Seasonal |
| Tundra | 4.60% | White IPA | Seasonal |
References
- 1 2 Brewery website
- ↑ Sabah Meddings (11 April 2016). "Woodfordes changes hands in bid to take business to the next level". Eastern Daily Press. Retrieved 25 April 2016.