Brakspear returns to brewing, launches microbrewery in Oxfordshire

The Bell Street Brewery will create Brakspear Special, a long-time favourite ale in and around the town, which was produced at the original Brakspear brewery.

The new facility sits within Brakspear’s newly-redeveloped Bull on Bell Street managed pub. It will produce four barrels of Brakspear Special a week, most of it for sale in the Bull, with limited quantities being made available to other pubs in Henley and surrounding areas.

Brakspear Special, a 4.3% ABV bitter, was brewed in Henley for more than 40 years before production of all Brakspear beers transferred to Marston’s Wychwood Brewery in Witney, Oxfordshire, in 2004.

Malcolm Mayo, who from 2001 was quality manager at Wychwood Brewery, is in charge of the brewing, with help from the Bull team.

Tom Davies, Brakspear chief executive, said: “Brewing was as much a part of the Brakspear business as pubs until the sale of the brewery in 2002, and cask ale is still a vital part of our pubs’ appeal. Brakspear Special achieved near-legendary status in and around Henley, so bringing it back to the town and restoring the link between brewery and pubs seems the right move and one which has been welcomed locally. It feels great for Brakspear to be brewing again.

“We’re delighted that Malcolm has come on board to brew Brakspear Special for us: there is nobody in the country with a better understanding of the beer and how to brew it. We’re confident that the beer brewed at the Bell Street Brewery is now ready to be enjoyed by the many Brakspear Special enthusiasts in Henley.”

A further seasonal range is also being developed and Brakspear is looking at a programme of collaborative brews with its tenants. Davies added: “We want to bring ale back to the forefront of our publicans’ minds and there is no better way to do this than by involving them in brewing their own beer.”