• Swindon & Wiltshire Manufacturing
• Thursday November 30 2023
• Author Name: Peter Davison

Wadworth celebrates 100th anniversary of its flagship 6X beer

Devizes brewery Wadworth is preparing to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its flagship beer – 6X – next week.

The beer was first brewed on December 5, 1923. It owes its name to its original strength – 6 per cent ABV – but was reduced to 4.3 per cent during World War Two due to the rationing of raw ingredients.

To celebrate the 100th anniversary, a special 6 per cent 6X is being brewed again. The special edition – which will be available in Wadworth’s managed and tenanted pubs across the South and West – uses the original 1923 brew recipe, with Fuggles and Goldings hops, and Invert no.1 sugar.

Marketing executive Alice Burnside said: “It’s been a fantastic year marking this incredible milestone in brewing history.

“There’s been the chance to win beer and merchandise through scanning a QR code on pump clips in our pubs, and we’ve had monthly competitions running on social media with prizes including a shire horse experience day, a personalised sign created by in-house sign writer Wayne, and a brewing experience helping head brewer Andy create our special edition 6 per cent 6X.”

The family-owned brewery – managing director Toby Bartholmew is the fifth generation family member to lead the company – celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2025.

In September brewing operations were moved to a new multi-million-pound brewery over the road from its original Victorian site.

Its former home will be replaced with 102 houses in a development called Brewery Wharf.

The houses – which will be equipped with air source heat pumps and electric vehicle chargers – will be built by Chippenham-based developer Backhouse.

The redevelopment will see the retention of the Grade II listed brewery tower.