Showcasing Somerset Breweries

SOMERSET is a county known for its ciders, but we’re sure you won’t be surprised to learn that it’s also full of a fantastic range of breweries.

Here we look at a few. full of flavour, values and heritage.

Cotleigh Brewery began life in Devon in 1979, in the old stable block of Cotleigh Farmhouse at Washfield near Tiverton. The original operation started as a five barrel brewing plant, with Tawny being the first brew and it has since remained one of the most popular beers in the South West. Since 1980 we have been housed in a purpose built 50 barrel brewery in Wiveliscombe but we haven’t lost any of our original craft values. Wiveliscombe is an appropriate home with a 200 year brewing tradition when Hancock’s were the biggest brewers in the South of England! It must be the air and pure clean water source.

 Our Anniversary Beer, Cotleigh 25 was chosen by ‘Caterer and Hotelkeeper’ Magazine to be their Best Alcohol Product in 2006. Notable early achievements, Barn Owl has been placed Supreme Champion of the SIBA Maltings Beer Festival in 1994 and has twice been a finalist in the GBBF Champion Beer of Britain competition. Tawny is a two-time Good Beer Guide 'Beer of the Year'.”

-For peace of mind, you will be glad to know that Cotleigh Brewery is SALSA accredited! Less than one hundred breweries have this high level food safety accreditation.

For further information, please visit www.cotleighbrewery.com

Quantock Brewery is a micro-brewery located at new, expanded brewery premises in rural Somerset, adjacent to the West Somerset Steam Railway, the UK’s longest heritage railway.

We produce a full range of multi award-winning craft beers, ranging from Quantock Ale at 3.8% to our strongest beer, UXB at 9%. We also brew the full colour range from the pale lager-style Sunraker to the black Quantock Stout and everything in between taking in golden, amber and copper tones. We use only finest English malt and whole hops to produce beers that are each unique in character. Our production technique ensures that we get the maximum flavour and aroma from the hops for maximum drinking pleasure.

The brewery started production in 2008 since when we have won scores of national and international awards. Our best-selling Wills Neck was crowned UK Supreme Champion Beer in 2013 and UK Champion Best Bitter in 2014. Every beer we have ever brewed has won at least one award and most are multiple winners, proving popular with judges and drinkers alike.

We have a brewery shop on site where you can purchase our full range of beers and a bar where there are always a range of draught beers on tap for you to try. The brewery is open every day throughout the day and also Friday and Saturday evenings. Additionally on 8th and 9th September 2016 we will be hosting the Somerset Camra Beer Festival with a large selection of beers from the south west and further afield to try.

For more information, please visit www.quantockbrewery.co.uk/

When the Duke of Monmouth back in 1685 staged the Pitchfork Rebellion in an attempt to overthrow James II of England, little did he realise his actions would lead to the name of the best selling beer brewed by RCH Brewery not too far from the original battle sites!

RCH Brewery launched ‘Pitchfork’, a 4.3% golden ale back in 1992, naming it after the famous local historical event. It quickly became a best seller with it’s zesty, hoppy flavour bursting from a beautifully golden colour and has been bagging awards for nearly a quarter of a century!

Each week, vans leave the brewery site in West Hewish to deliver ‘Pitchfork’ and other beers as far south as Plymouth and all the way up to the Midlands to satisfy the thirst of discerning beer lovers. For those who rarely visit pubs and ale houses, ‘Pitchfork’ is also found in bottles in various farm shops and some major supermarkets throughout the South West. Being a true ‘bottle conditioned’ beer, unlike many shop sold beers, it’s as close to the cask as you can get to ensure the best possible beer experience for the consumer.

RCH Brewery created ‘Pitchfork’ like all of it’s other beers – packed full of balanced flavour and insisting it must be 100% British – the water, hops, barley and yeast are all British.

It’s been an interesting journey for RCH Brewery since their first brew in 1983 in Burnham-on-Sea, they still fly the flag for flavoursome, high quality beer and continue to innovate through the creation of exciting new flavours and styles. Just as it proudly states on the side of their building, RCH Brewery are changing the world – one flavoursome beer at a time!

More information is available on the RCH Brewery website at www.rchbrewery.com