Ringwood Brewery
Ringwood Brewery is a small brewery on the edge of the New Forest in Hampshire, England, near the Dorset border. It produces mainly cask ales and some bottled beers.
 | |
| Industry | Brewing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1978 |
| Founder | Peter Austin (brewer) |
| Headquarters | Ringwood , England |
| Products | Beer |
Production output | 40,000 barrels[1] |
| Parent | Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company (CMBC) |
| Website | www.ringwoodbrewery.co.uk |
History
There are records from the early 19th century of four breweries, one owned by a banker named Stephen Tunks, that stood on the site of the present day Ringwood Brewery. Of the four, none survive today. The last to close was Carters on West Street, in 1923.
In 1975 the former head brewery of Hull Brewery, Peter Austin retired to Hampshire to enjoy more time sailing. However the retirement was not to last and Austin was keen to pursue new ventures.[2][3]
In 1978, Ringwood Brewery was established and started brewing in an old bakery at Minty's Yard, New Street, Ringwood in April of that year.[4] Austin was an influence on Britain's craft brewery rebirth in much the same way that Fritz Maytag of San Francisco's Anchor Brewing Company and Pierre Celis of Belgium's Hoegaarden Brewery were to their countries. However, Austin had a much more direct role in brewery development through his consulting business and equipment sales. Several American craft brewers use his equipment: Geary's Brewing, Shipyard and Middle Ages Brewing Company.
Austin later brought in two business partners; David and Nigel Welch. The business continued to expand with the purchase of a number of pubs[3] and in 1986, having outgrown their existing brewery, the company moved to the a stie on Christchurch Road, historically previously part of Stephen Tunk's Brewery.[4]
In 1988, the brewery was awarded 'Champion Beer of Britain' by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), for 'Old Thumper'.[5]
Between 1990 and 1994 production rose from 5,000 barrels per annum to 13,000 barrels per annum. The brewhouse was extended to accommodate this from 1994, with a further extension taking place in 1999 to allow more than one brew per day.[5]
In 2007, Ringwood was purchased from David Welch by Marston's plc for £19.2 million.[3] Marston's stated that they would keep the brewery in operation and continue producing the full range of Ringwood beers.[6][7][8]
In 2013, Ringwood underwent a full re-brand, and the ABV of Old Thumper was reduced from 5.6% to 5.1%.
In 2015, Ringwood Best Bitter was rebranded as Ringwood Razorback.[5]
In May 2020, it was announced that subject to competition law and shareholder approval, Marston's would merge its brewing business, including Ringwood Brewery, with Carlsberg UK (the United Kingdom arm of Carlsberg Group), into a joint venture to be known as Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company (CMBC), valued at £780m. Marston's took a 40% stake in the joint venture and received c.£273m in cash.[9]
In 2023 the brewery and its brands were put up for sale by CMBC, who announced the closure of their logistics base in Ringwood as part of the same announcement.[10]
Beers
Permanent ales
- Razorback (previously Best Bitter) – 3.6% - Bitter - Launched 1978, rebranded 2015[1]
- Forty Niner – 4.9% - Golden Ale - Launched 1978[1]
- Old Thumper – 5.1% - Strong Ale, used to be as strong as 6%, then 5.8%, now 5.1% - Launched 1979[1]
- Boondoggle – 4.2% - Blonde Beer - Launched 1997[5]
- Circadian – 4.5% - IPA - Launched 2016[5]
Seasonal ales
- Scuttle Butt - 4.0% - Amber ale
- Young Scrumper - 4.0% - Blonde ale
- Filly Drift - 4.7% - Bitter
- Showman's Tipple - 3.8% - Bitter
- XXXX Porter - 4.7% - Porter - Launched 1980[1]
- Shy Giant - 4.5% - NE IPA
- Huffkin - Autumn Ale - Launched 2002[5]
- Mauler - 3.9% - Golden Ale
- Red Boar - 3.9% - Red Ale
- Porker - 5.2% - Blonde Ale
- Wild Boar - 4% - Bitter
- Old Scrumper - 4% - Bitter
- Lovey Warne - 4.2% - Golden Ale
- Ring O The Bells - 5% - Dark Ale
- Three Sheets - 4.6% - Red Ale
- Groundhog - 4.0%
Commemorative ales
- Royal Match - A traditional strong ale brewed to a special gravity of 1052 - Special brew produced in 1981 to commemorate the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer.
- True Glory - 4.5% - Amber Ale - Special brew first produced in 1995 to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of VE Day.[5]
- Twenty One Not Out - Special brew produced in 1999 to commemorate the twenty first anniversary of the brewery.[5]
- Bold Forester - Special brew produced in 2003 to commemorate the twenty fifth anniversary of the brewery.[5]
- Seventy Eight - 4.2% - Spring Ale - Special brew produced in 2008 to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the brewery. Brewed again in 2018 to commemorate the fourtieth anniversary of the brewery.[1]
References
- "40 years of brewing up a storm in Ringwood". Southern Daily Echo. Newsquest (Southern) Ltd. 16 April 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
- Robertson, Miranda (11 January 2014). "Tributes Paid to Founder of Ringwood Brewery". Sailsbury Journal. Newsquest (Southern) Ltd. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
- "The Oxford Companion to Beer Definition of Ringwood Brewery". Craft Beer & Brewing. Unfiltered Media Group. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
- "Ringwood Brewery Ltd". The Directory of UK Brewers. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
- "About Us". Ringwood Brewery. Archived from the original on 10 August 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
- Walsh, Dominic (12 July 2007). "Marston's swallows Ringwood Brewery for £19m". The Times. Archived from the original on 12 June 2011. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
- Withrington, Adam (12 July 2007). "CAMRA voices concern over Ringwood takeover". The Publican. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
- "Marston's buys Old Thumper brewer". BBC News. 12 July 2007. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
- "Marston's and Carlsberg UK announce £780m merger - BBC News". BBC News. 22 May 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
- Goldman, Andrew. "Ringwood Brewery to be up for sale by Carlsberg Marston's". The Bournemouth Daily Echo. Newsquest (Southern) Limited. Retrieved 8 June 2023.