Meet Our Ale Producer...
Marston's (The Wychwood Brewery), Oxfordshire
Our History
In 1983, the original Clinch's Brewery site was purchased by Paddy Glenny, an English brewer who had trained in Germany. Paddy christened it The Eagle Brewery - later changing this to Glenny Brewery. The Eagle Brewery was started in the cellar of the existing "Eagle Maltings" building which now houses the Wychwood Brewery offices. Chris Moss joined Paddy in 1985, thus doubling the workforce.
A small, entrepreneurial concern, Eagle Brewery started off brewing about 800 barrels a year. In 1990, the Eagle was re-named the Wychwood Brewery after the Ancient medieval Wychwood Forest which borders Witney.
By 1997, Wychwood Brewery was producing nearly 30,000 barrels a year, including a full calendar of limited edition seasonal cask ales.
Following the closure of the Brakspear Brewery in Henley on Thames, in October 2002, Wychwood was committed to bringing the brewing of Brakspear back to Oxfordshire.
Following a £1 Million redevelopment of the Wychwod Brewery site, the Brewery now incorporates a separate Brakspear brewhouse and Brakpear fermenting room, using much of the original Brakspear equipment from Henley, including the famous ‘Double Drop fermenting system, used to brew Brakspear beers since 1774. Now home to Wychwood & Brakspear beers, Wychwood brews 50,000 barrels of traditionally hand-crafted ale every year and exports Wychwood bottled beers around the world.
Our Location
The Wychwood Brewery is tucked away behind the main street of the market town of Witney, in the heart of the Oxfordshire Cotswolds. Witney is historically famous for its 3 Bs: its bread, its blankets and its beer. Brewing has taken place in Witney for centuries.
Our People
The employees at Wychwood, as well as qualified to excel in the different roles needed to operate a regional brewery, offer a level of commitment and passion to succeed in a competitive market. Many employees live within the market town of Witney itself.
Our Ingredients
Duchy Original Ale has been brewed using a blend of the finest aroma hops and malt made from Plumage Archer barley harvested from selected farms in Britain including the Home Farm at Highgrove.
Our Production Methods
The Wychwood brewery produces hand crafted beers brewed using traditional methods.
Our Products
We produce the Duchy Originals Organic Traditional Ale and the Organic Select Ale.
Visit the Wychwood Brewery website
