Refresh to extend Wychwood Brewery

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has welcomed the news that Brakspear beers will be brewed again in Oxfordshire.​ Refresh, the company which brews the beers under licence, has revealed that it is to extend the site of its Wychwood Brewery, in Witney, Oxfordshire, to produce Brakspear beers.

The company had been looking for a new brewery site since agreeing the deal with Brakspear last year and had looked at over 80 locations.

Mike Benner, head of campaigns and communications, said: "We had hoped for a new brewery as close as possible to the original brewery site and a new brew house and tun room at the Wychwood Brewery in Witney is a good outcome.

"Most important of all is that Refresh UK is bringing the unique Brakspear' double drop method of fermentation back to life and this will be essential in getting the beers to taste right."

Refresh chief executive Rupert Thompson (pictured)​ said: "We had been concentrating our efforts on finding a separate site nearer Henley. Wychwood Brewery had previously decided to expand its site without success but when additional space became available in the spring we jumped at the opportunity."

"We had already purchased and stored all key pieces of brewing equipment from Brakspear, which we will be incorporating into the new brewhouse and fermentation hall."

Brakspear Bitter and Special are currently being brewed at the Thomas Hardy brewery at Burtonwood while all seasonal ales are being brewed at the Wychwood Brewery.