WYCHWOOD BREWERY - ONE YEAR ON

The staff of Wychwood Brewery are celebrating a year of great success with strong growth for their flagship cask brands, Hobgoblin and Brakspear. Their elation has been given a boost by the news that leading beer writer Roger Protz, in his new book, ‘300 Beers To Try Before You Die’ has listed Brakspear Bitter in his top 10 beers to try in British pubs.

Since the commissioning of the expanded Wychwood Brewery in June 2004, volume at the historic maltings site has boomed and production of Wychwood and Brakspear beers is at its highest ever level for the Witney brewery.

Brakspear Bitter is widely regarded as one of Britain’s classic 3.4% abv brews. It has always had a loyal following in its Thames Valley heartland, originally based around Brakspear’s own estate near Henley, but with the return of its brewing to Oxfordshire, demand has grown impressively. Figures for the twelve months to the end of May show that, even excluding sales to the Brakspear Estate, Brakspear Bitter has grown by almost 20%.

Sales of Wychwood’s Hobgoblin ale have also been flying and cask sales have trebled since Hobgoblin was re-launched in October 2003. The new stronger 5% abv recipe has seen sales for the 12 months to end May 2005 rise by nearly 50%.

Wychwood’s Sales Director James Coyle commented:

“Whereas Brakspear is very much a ‘local hero’, Hobgoblin’s power in the off trade means it is a national brand and cask sales reflect this with sales spread evenly across all regions of England. Hobgoblin has a distinctive character to both brand and flavour. The brand certainly struck a chord with licencees and consumers alike when we launched the ‘What’s the matter lagerboy’ advertising campaign two years ago.”

For further information, contact Katherine Robbins on 020 7384 1333 or katherine@randr.co.uk