Brewing History
Ringwood Brewery
Beer has been brewed in Ringwood for centuries ever since mediaeval man first mixed the crystal water of the River Avon with the malted barley harvested from the surrounding fertile fields of Hampshire.
The market town was a magnet for merchants and dusty drovers who needed their thirst slaked and whistles wetted before they could get down to the business of bargaining and bartering and many a deal was sealed over a draught and a noggin in one of the many taverns, inns and ale houses that gave Ringwood one of the highest pubs per head of population in olde England.
- 1978
- The present Ringwood Brewery was founded by the pioneering Peter Austin, widely regarded as a founding father of the British micro-brewing industry.
- 1979
- The much stronger Old Thumper ale first came on tap to become the Ringwood flagship brew
The company moved to its present Christchurch Road site, appropriately the location of the long lost Tunks' Brewery which closed in 1821 - 1994
- The bustling, bubbling, brewery plant was at bursting point and work began to build a bigger brewhouse designed to produce 120 barrels (4,320 gallons) batches, more than doubling the output of the old plant which was dismantled in 1995
- 1995
- To celebrate the 50th anniversary of VE Day, a commemorative beer True Glory was brewed and the logo was voted best label of the year
- 1997
- The Hogshead pubs group asked Ringwood to come up with a summer ale and the result was called Boondoggle an American word which roughly translates into English as not working too hard!
- 1999
- The new Ringwood brewhouse with its copper doubling up as a whirlpool to separate the hops was making life difficult when two brews a day were needed so it was decided to install a new copper fitted with steam coils. It took 12 months - and the removal of the brewhouse roof - to complete the project .
- 2002
- Autumn ale Huffkin, taking its name from a Kentish teacake flavoured with hops was launched.
- 2007
- David Welsh decided to retire after nearly 30 years at the brewery and handed the baton over to Marstons Brewery . Marstons are determined to continue the Ringwood success story in the premium cask ale market and share the same passion as Ringwood do for real ale.
"Our award winning beers are brewed in the traditional way using only the finest ingredients: premium malted barley from Hampshire, Dorset and Devon together with hops from the best growers in Kent and Worcestershire. The rest is down to our famous yeast strain and the skill and dedication of our brewers. We hope you enjoy the fruit of their endeavour "