An independent brewery which began in a household garage and has grown into a thriving business is celebrating its 15th anniversary.
Vibrant Forest’s journey started in 2011 in the founder’s small garage, where brewing took place on a modest one-barrel system. This produced around 175 litres at a time, enough to fill four casks for local pubs and beer festivals.
Fifteen years later, the brewery supplies pubs and retailers across the UK, exports to Europe, and operates a thriving taproom which is at the heart of its community.
“In its earliest days, the brewery was very much a part-time venture of mine, with brewing happening during evenings and weekends alongside my full-time job,” said founder Kevin Robinson.
“The very first beer I brewed was Summerlands, originally a 3.8% ABV recipe, and I was really encouraged when the quality of the beers started to gain recognition.”
In its debut year, Vibrant Forest’s Wheatwave was voted runner-up at the Hampshire Oktoberfest CAMRA awards, Further CAMRA awards followed for Flying Saucer and Black Forest, providing early validation that the brewery’s focus on flavour and high-quality ingredients was resonating with drinkers.
A major milestone came in 2014 with the move to a new site on the edge of Lymington in the New Forest. Kevin said: “While we waited for a new brewing system to arrive, brewing continued on my original one-barrel kit. When the modern brew kit was commissioned in April, the first brew was Flying Saucer, a 4.3% pale ale showcasing bright citrus flavours from American hops.
“We also built a small bar from reclaimed pallet wood at the new site and opened it to visitors at weekends, marking the beginning of what would become an important part of the Vibrant Forest story: creating welcoming spaces where people could experience our brewery and its beers firsthand.”
The brewery’s first year of full-time brewing culminated in a birthday celebration in April 2015 and the launch of one of its earliest oak projects, Black Oktober, infused with oak and brandy. The beer proved hugely popular and laid the foundations for the innovative barrel-aged beers that have since become an integral part of the brewery’s portfolio.
Over the following years, Vibrant Forest continued to grow steadily and organically. Brewing capacity increased, the brewery began hosting its own beer festivals at Brockenhurst Village Hall, and demand for its beers continued to rise.
Kevin said: “It soon became clear that larger premises would be needed to support future growth. That next chapter began in February 2019, when we signed the lease on four new industrial units in Hardley, on the edge of the New Forest.”
The move enabled significant investment in modern brewing facilities, expanded production capacity, and the development of a vibrant taproom that has become a popular destination and an important hub for the local community.
Alongside investing in equipment, Vibrant Forest built a talented and passionate team dedicated to producing outstanding beer.
Ryan Dack, general manager, said: “Alongside its growth, Vibrant Forest has remained true to the principles on which it was founded. Every beer is brewed to maximise flavour and aroma, remaining unfiltered, unpasteurised, and 100% vegan.
“Creativity continues to drive our approach, with a constantly evolving range that prioritises innovation over conformity, and quality over compromise.”
