It’s a new era for Wiltshire’s Wadworth Brewery, with a new brewhouse, a new brand, and a foray into the world of craft beer.
The company, which has been based on Northgate Street, in Devizes, since 1885, has moved to a 25,000 sq ft brewhouse, which is a five-minute drive away on Folly Road.
Work on the new premises started in May 2022. It has cost in the region of £8 million to transform the former warehouse into a state-of-the-art brewery. The Folly Road site boasts an extensive range of sustainability-focused credentials, which include an ultra-efficient steam generator, capable of reducing brewery boiler-warming times from four and a half hours hours to just seven minutes.
“Our 1885 Northgate brewery is a grade II listed building, and much of the plant, equipment, and main brewery building has come to the end of its useful life,” said Wadworth managing director Toby Bartholomew.
“Over the years, the beer market has changed, and Northgate brewery is too large, inefficient, and inflexible for our needs moving forward. Our new Folly Road brewhouse allows us to diversify our beer offer and, in turn, support our pubs and customers more effectively.
“We will continue to brew Wadworth traditional ales, including 6X, Horizon, and Henry’s IPA alongside our new Folly Road craft beer portfolio.”
Evolution, a 4.3% ABV session IPA, is the first craft beer to come out of Folly Road. With a refreshing, punchy, crisp bitterness, and bags of intense citrus flavour and aroma, the vegan-friendly beer was specifically brewed to mark the opening of the Folly Road brewhouse.
“We’ve launched Folly Road craft beer to maximise our new brewhouse and broaden our portfolio into the growing craft keg market, creating a larger and more interesting range of beers for our pubs,” said Sarah Berry, head of marketing.
The packaging for Evolution was designed by Bournemouth Arts University student Gemma Cook, who won a design competition that was launched by Wadworth at the end of 2022. People were invited to come up with a name and logo for the new brewery, as well as for the first two Folly Road craft beers.
Sarah added: “Our overall beer vision is to brew a distinctive, credible, and relevant beer portfolio without compromising on quality, consistency, or passion, from grain to glass.
“Meanwhile, our overall vision for Wadworth, is to continue to be an independent family brewer and pub company, leaving a legacy, and brewing Wadworth traditional ales and Folly Road craft beers for generations to come.”
Evolution Session IPA is available in more than 40 pubs across the South and West, and available to buy in cans online.
