Brewing is returning to Wiveliscombe for Exmoor Ales
Jonathan Price of Exmoor Ales has announced: I am delighted to announce that we are moving into the old Cotleigh Brewery next to our current site this week. We have bought the brewing equipment, and Shaun Vockin, Cotleigh' s Head Brewer will start brewing for us there. Whilst we could not maintain the scale of brewing we had before, this is a 140-firkin brew plant so will allow us to do regular seasonal and specials like Exmoor Beast. It will also allow us to have a more accessible shop, and we will be opening our own Tap Room on the site shortly.
I am also pleased to say that one of our old team, Simon French, is joining us from Timothy Taylor as Managing Director designate, and he is hiring additional sales and admin staff.
To celebrate, our first brew will be a Tawny Ale, the style of beer for which Cotleigh was famous. We will then immediately move to brewing Exmoor Dark. Both beers will be available for local customers.
Can I add my personal thanks to you for sticking with us through a very difficult year during which we have had both product and financial difficulties. I am very confident that with our new Team and the backing of our friends at Hogs Back Brewery, we will return to former glories.
Hopefully in a few months we can open the Tap Room and invite you all.
PREVIOUS NEWS
The future of Exmoor Ales
Dear Customer,
I wanted to update you on our future plans as a business. Sadly, like many breweries, we have faced some challenging times recently due to the knock-on effects of COVID-19, inflation, market changes and most recently, tax increases. This has meant we need to restructure and close brewery.
We looked at a number of options, including linking up with any other local brewer, but we were concerned that we would lose nearly all the jobs, our brands, and our independence. Exmoor Ales has a strong following of loyal drinkers built up over more than 40 years, so we’ve been looking for a solution that will allow us to continue employing people locally and be in charge of our own sales and future.
I am pleased to announce that we’re collaborating with Hogs Back Brewery, another family-owned, award-winning independent brewery based in Surrey. They will brew our beers for a period of time whilst we look at future options. Exmoor’s Head Brewer, Sanghrash, will be brewing with them using the same recipes, same yeast for each Exmoor Brand to match the same taste and quality as now. Hogs Back has a lot of experience working collaboratively with other small businesses around the country.
We will continue distributing our beers locally from Wiveliscombe, with Hogs Back helping with national distribution. I remain here, as always, as Managing Director of the new operation, and with our sales and distribution team, we will be able to take advantage of exciting new opportunities that are emerging, including the launch of our own lager, a low-alcohol beer, and a new IPA, to be announced shortly. We will also seek collaborations with other local businesses and introduce exclusive distribution arrangements with other drinks businesses.
The closure of a brewery is always sad, but in the current market, it is becoming all too common as Global brewers’ close opportunities for small local brewers. A recent report by SIBA showed that independent brewers are now denied access to more than half of all the pubs in their local area – this cannot be good for consumer choice. We very much hope times will change and Exmoor will retain the support of its loyal local customers.
We will be making a further announcement with more details of our exciting plans shortly. In the meantime, we have good stocks of everything and you can be assured there will be complete continuity of supply.
Thank you for your continuing support and keeping a proud local business independent.
Yours sincerely,
Jonathan and the Exmoor Team.
Somerset’s iconic brewery closes but it’s not last orders just yet
Exmoor Ales is closing its Somerset brewery—but a new brewing partnership with Hogs Back Brewery will keep its iconic beers alive and jobs protected
Exmoor Ales has announced the closure of its Somerset brewery after battling the impact of Covid-19, inflation and rising taxes, but insists a new collaboration will help preserve the brand and protect jobs.
Managing director Jonathan Price said the company had faced “challenging times” in recent years, which forced it to restructure in order to survive. After exploring several options, Exmoor Ales decided to collaborate with Hogs Back Brewery, a family-owned independent brewery based in Surrey.
Jonathan said: "It is shocking to have to close a brewery, but the environment for small brewers has been one of decline since Covid. I don’t know how many small breweries have closed down, but likely in the hundreds."
From: https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/somersets-iconic-brewery-closes-its-10143196
Hi! All,
Having spoken to Jonathan today it has been agreed to cancel the 17th May and as BLO I will take the award to him, possibly next week.
Jonathan assures me that the brewing of Exmoor Ales will be to a good advantage working with Hogs Back as they will be distributing there products.
The brewery staff have left but the admin staff are still there.
We all need to keep a watchful eye on proceeding and I wished Jonathan all the best and he said he was certain it will succeed.
Kind regards to all, Phil Emond, Brewery Liaison Officer for Exmoor Ales.