Wadworth Brewery

Wadworth's Brewery front facade, Devizes

Wadworth is a brewery company founded in 1875 in Devizes, Wiltshire, England, best known for their 6X beer brand.

History

Wadworth & Co. was founded in 1875 when Henry Wadworth purchased the 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^[1] on the economy of Devizes and a major provider of ale in the south of England.^[2]

Wadworth's Brewery, Devizes

The present Northgate Brewery is a tower brewery opened in 1885.^[3]

Beers

While 6X is the brewer's best known beer, the company also produce other beers, including several seasonal ales.

Beers available throughout the year:

• 6X (4.1% abv)
• Henry's Original IPA (3.6%abv)
• Horizon - Golden Ale (4.0% abv)
• Bishop's Tipple - Golden ale, full flavoured (5.0% abv on draught, 5.5% abv in bottle)
• Swordfish - A stronger version of 6X with the addition of Pusser's Navy Rum (5.0% abv)
• Corvus - A nitro keg stout available in 30L format with a chocolate & coffee taste and creamy head

Seasonal beers:

• St George & The Dragon - (March and April)
• Lily The Pink - a blend of golden beer and Angostura Bitters
• Red, White & Brew - a hoppy golden beer brewed initially to commemorate the Jubilee and the Olympics (May–July)
• Farmers Glory - a traditional English ale (July and August, 4.7% abv)
• Malt & Hops - using fresh hops straight from the bine (September and October)
• Blunderbuss - a red Autumn ale flavoured with elderberry (5.0% abv)
• Old Timer - winter ale (December and January)

Shire horses pulling a Wadworth Brewery dray. Their normal role is to deliver beer to pubs in the Devizes area but here the public are being given a ride.

6X

The "X" in 6X refers to a traditional grading system for strong beer; it was first brewed in 1923.^[4] In 2007, 6X won the Daily Telegraph and Cask Marque Best Of British Beer Award for Wales and the West Country. 6X is available in draught cask, keg, can and bottle formats.

Operations

Wadworths still use traditional shire horses to deliver their casked ale to local pubs in Devizes. Their radius of the operation is roughly 5 miles; beyond this, motor vehicles are used. The ale can be delivered in metal or wooden barrels.

The brewery owns three horses (Monty, Max and Archie)^[5] which are stabled at the brewery. As well as delivering ale, the horses also compete in shows and events throughout the country. They are featured often in the 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 whose in-house master cooper makes nothing but barrels.

Wadworth operate a Visitor Centre and gift shop at the brewery. Tours of the brewery can be taken and may include a tutored tasting of the Wadworth range as well as cooperage demonstrations and visits to the shire horses and sign-writing shop.

References

1. "Wadworth's Brewery, Devizes, Wiltshire (C) Dr Neil Clifton :: Geograph Britain and Ireland". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
2. "Beer delivery (C) Nick Smith :: Geograph Britain and Ireland". Geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
3. "Wadworth Website - Our History". Wadworth & Co Ltd. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
4. "History". Wadworth 6X. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
5. Hook, Rachael (28 July 2015). "18hh Shire joins brewery team". Horse & Hound. Retrieved 4 June 2016.

External links

Official website