The stories of six historic breweries from the south west of England are told in a new book by Roger Protz, The Family Brewers of Britain.
Roger charts 300 years of British brewing through the fascinating and sometimes fractious histories of the families still running them. The book has been supported by the Independent Family Brewers of Britain and is published by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).
With in-depth features and interviews from 30 family brewers, Roger examines the past, present, and future of these great brewing companies. Readers will uncover some intriguing family rows, discover pioneering female brewers, and examine some of the biggest threats faced by these British institutions over the centuries.
Roger said: “These six breweries are stalwarts of British brewing history, and a credit to the south west. It is testament to the continuing quality of their beer that they remain relevant and popular in the modern day, and continue to meet the demands of today’s consumers.
“Our family brewers are often overlooked flag bearers for real ale, and have fascinating stories to tell. The breweries included in this book have centuries of fascinating history under their belts, and it was a delight to research and compile their stories in this book. I look forward to readers coming along on this journey and learning more about their favourite brews.”
• The Family Brewers of Britain goes on sale from CAMRA Books on 9th September.
The breweries
Arkell’s, Swindon
Launched in 1843 by John Arkell, the brewery expanded to keep pace with demand from John’s two pubs. To celebrate his success, he invited a group of friends to dine in his new 3,000-gallon barrel. The brewery today remains achingly traditional, with the original wood-jacketed mash tun from the 19th century, and the mill where the malt is ground dating from 1908.
Donnington, Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire
Dating from 1865, this brewery stands in a valley of the Cotswolds, based on the ancient Roman Fosse Way. Its buildings date from the 13th century, when a mill was formed on the local manor, and was later purchased by Thomas Arkell, cousins of the Swindon Arkell family.
St Austell, Cornwall
Established in 1851, St Austell had a resurgence when it brewed Daylight Robbery to mark the total eclipse in August 1999; its success caused the brewery’s beer sales to soar. Daylight Robbery has since been renamed Tribute, and is now its leading brand. By 2010, production of Tribute was running at 60,000 barrels a year.
Wadworth, Devizes, Wiltshire
Founded in 1875, Wadworth is now being driven by youth and enthusiasm, but tradition still plays an important role. It continues to deliver beer locally by horse-drawn drays, pulled by two shire horses. Eighty per cent of its production is in cask, and half of that is 6X, the ale that has made Wadworth famous throughout the country.
Hall & Woodhouse, Blandford Forum, Dorset
Dating from 1777, Hall & Woodhouse is currently run by the seventh generation of the same family. Commonly known as Badger, from its logo and leading beer, the brewery’s founder, Charles Hall, flourished as a result of being licensed to supply beer to troops stationed at Weymouth during the Napoleonic war.
Palmers, Bridport, Dorset
Dating from 1794 and standing on the Jurassic Coast, the popularity of Palmers has been aided by growing tourism numbers to the coast after it was declared a Word Heritage Site by Unesco in 2001. The brewery has survived many ups and downs in its long history, but its modern success can be measured by the number of awards it picked up in the 21st century, including honours from CAMRA and the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA).
