Wadworth Brewery
Encyclopedia
Wadworth is a regional brewery founded in 1875 in Devizes
, Wiltshire
, England
. They are particularly famous for their 6X beer
, but also are a major brewery in the South of England.
in the south of England http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/409763.
The present Northgate Brewery was built in 1888 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/417720.
, the company also produce other beers, including several seasonal ale
s.
, and the West Country
, especially in Wiltshire
where it is brewed. The "X" in 6X refers to a traditional grading system for strong beer; it was first brewed in 1921. In 2007 6X won the Daily Telegraph and Cask Marque Best Of British Beer Award for Wales
and the West Country
.
s to deliver their casked ale
to local pubs in Devizes. The radius of the operation is roughly 5 miles square; beyond the 5 mile radius, vehicles are used. The ale can be delivered in metal or wooden barrels.
The brewery owns four horses which are stabled at the brewery and the horses receive 2 weeks holiday every year in a nearby village. As well as delivering ale, the horses also compete in shows and events throughout the country. The sight of the shire horses is well known in Devizes and has become a defining image for the town. They are featured often in local press and have featured in many programmes such as Countryfile
.
Wadworth is one of only four breweries in the UK that still use horses to deliver ale, one of four that has an in-house cooper
and the last brewery to have an in-house master cooper who makes nothing but barrels.
Wadworth recently unveiled a state of the art interactive Visitor Centre and gift shop at the brewery
. Tours of the brewery can be taken and include a tutored tasting of the Wadworth range as well as coopering demonstrations and visits to the shire horses and sign writing shop (subject to availability).
Devizes
Devizes is a market town and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. The town is about southeast of Chippenham and about east of Trowbridge.Devizes serves as a centre for banks, solicitors and shops, with a large open market place where a market is held once a week...
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. They are particularly famous for their 6X beer
Beer
Beer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat...
, but also are a major brewery in the South of England.
History
Wadworth & Co. was founded in 1875 when Henry Wadworth purchased the old Northgate Brewery in Devizes. It was not long before they exceeded their capacity at the Northgate Brewery and in 1885 they moved premises to a new facility close to their original site. Since then, the brewer has been a major influence http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/432955 on the economy of Devizes and a major provider of aleAle
Ale is a type of beer brewed from malted barley using a warm fermentation with a strain of brewers' yeast. The yeast will ferment the beer quickly, giving it a sweet, full bodied and fruity taste...
in the south of England http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/409763.
The present Northgate Brewery was built in 1888 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/417720.
Beers
While 6X is the Brewer's best known beerBeer
Beer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat...
, the company also produce other beers, including several seasonal ale
Ale
Ale is a type of beer brewed from malted barley using a warm fermentation with a strain of brewers' yeast. The yeast will ferment the beer quickly, giving it a sweet, full bodied and fruity taste...
s.
- 6X
- Henry's Original IPA
- Horizon - Golden Ale
- Bishop's Tipple - Golden ale, full flavoured
- Boundary (previously named Strong In The Arm) - Mid strength ale with a punchy, hoppy tang
- St George & The Dragon - Refreshing and easy drinking (Seasonal - available March & April)
- Lily The Pink - A unique blend of golden beer and Angostura Bitters (Seasonal - available April & May)
- Farmers Glory - A traditional English ale (Seasonal - available July & August)
- Malt 'n' Hops - The only beer using fresh hops straight from the bine (Seasonal - available September & October)
- Swordfish - A stronger version of the classic 6X with the addition of Pusser's Navy Rum (Seasonal - available October & November)
- Old Timer - Winter ale (Seasonal - available December & January)
6X
6X is a popular beer in South West EnglandSouth West England
South West England is one of the regions of England defined by the Government of the United Kingdom for statistical and other purposes. It is the largest such region in area, covering and comprising Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. ...
, and the West Country
West Country
The West Country is an informal term for the area of south western England roughly corresponding to the modern South West England government region. It is often defined to encompass the historic counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset and the City of Bristol, while the counties of...
, especially in Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
where it is brewed. The "X" in 6X refers to a traditional grading system for strong beer; it was first brewed in 1921. In 2007 6X won the Daily Telegraph and Cask Marque Best Of British Beer Award for Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and the West Country
West Country
The West Country is an informal term for the area of south western England roughly corresponding to the modern South West England government region. It is often defined to encompass the historic counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset and the City of Bristol, while the counties of...
.
Operations
Wadworths still use traditional shire horseShire horse
The Shire horse is a breed of draught horse or draft horse . The breed comes in many colours, including black, bay and grey. They are a tall breed, with mares standing and over and stallions standing and over. The breed has an enormous capacity for weight pulling, and Shires have held the world...
s to deliver their casked ale
Ale
Ale is a type of beer brewed from malted barley using a warm fermentation with a strain of brewers' yeast. The yeast will ferment the beer quickly, giving it a sweet, full bodied and fruity taste...
to local pubs in Devizes. The radius of the operation is roughly 5 miles square; beyond the 5 mile radius, vehicles are used. The ale can be delivered in metal or wooden barrels.
The brewery owns four horses which are stabled at the brewery and the horses receive 2 weeks holiday every year in a nearby village. As well as delivering ale, the horses also compete in shows and events throughout the country. The sight of the shire horses is well known in Devizes and has become a defining image for the town. They are featured often in local press and have featured in many programmes such as Countryfile
Countryfile
Countryfile is a British magazine-style television programme produced by BBC Birmingham, first aired on 24th July 1988, which reports on rural and environmental issues within the United Kingdom. For its first 20 years it was fronted by broadcaster John Craven, until he stepped back from the role of...
.
Wadworth is one of only four breweries in the UK that still use horses to deliver ale, one of four that has an in-house cooper
Cooper (profession)
Traditionally, a cooper is someone who makes wooden staved vessels of a conical form, of greater length than breadth, bound together with hoops and possessing flat ends or heads...
and the last brewery to have an in-house master cooper who makes nothing but barrels.
Wadworth recently unveiled a state of the art interactive Visitor Centre and gift shop at the brewery
Brewery
A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company....
. Tours of the brewery can be taken and include a tutored tasting of the Wadworth range as well as coopering demonstrations and visits to the shire horses and sign writing shop (subject to availability).
External links
- http://www.wadworthvisitorcentre.co.uk
- http://www.wadworthpubs.co.uk
- http://www.drinkaware.co.uk
- http://www.6xale.co.uk