• Swindon & Wiltshire Manufacturing
• Wednesday March 20 2024
• Author Name: Peter Davison

First craft beer launched by traditional brewer Wadworth

The first craft beer from Wadworth, the traditional real ale brewer, has been rolled out across the region.

Evolution, a 4.3 per cent Session IPA, is the first craft beer to come out of Folly Road – the new 25,000sq ft brewhouse opened by Wadworth just five minutes away from its Grade II-listed Victorian brewery in the centre of Devizes.

Work on the new premises started in May 2022 and the £8 million new facility opened in 2023. Its ultra-efficient steam generator is capable of reducing brewery boiler-warming times from 4.5 hours to just seven minutes – making the brewing of small batch beers possible for the first time.

Toby Bartholomew, managing director, said: “Our 1885 Northgate brewery is a Grade II-listed building, and much of the plant, equipment and main brewery building has come to the end of its useful life.

“Over the years, the beer market has changed and Northgate brewery is too large, inefficient and inflexible for our needs moving forward.

“Our new Folly Road brewhouse allows us to diversify our beer offer and, in turn, support our pubs and customers more effectively.

” We will continue to brew Wadworth traditional ales, including 6X, Horizon and Henry’s IPA alongside our new Folly Road craft beer portfolio.”

Evolution craft beer celebrates the next stage for Wadworth

Sarah Berry, head of marketing at Wadworth, said: “We’ve launched Folly Road craft beer to maximise our new brewhouse and broaden our portfolio into the growing craft keg market creating a larger and more interesting range of beers for our pubs.

The packaging for Evolution was designed by Bournemouth Arts University student, Gemma Cook, who won a design competition that was launched by Wadworth at the end of 2022. People were invited to come up with a name and logo for the new brewery, as well as for the first two Folly Road craft beers.

Sarah adds: “Our overall beer vision is to brew a distinctive, credible and relevant beer portfolio without compromising on quality, consistency or passion, from grain to glass.

“Meanwhile, our overall vision for Wadworth, is to continue to be an independent family brewer and pub company, leaving a legacy and brewing Wadworth traditional ales and Folly Road craft beers for generations to come.”

Evolution Session IPA is available in over 40 pubs across the South and West. Staff and VIPs were given a preview of the vegan-friendly craft beer at an event to mark the 100th anniversary of the brewer’s flagship 6X ale in December.