Brakspear beers in growth
Sales figures indicate that beer drinkers have accepted that the unique flavour of Brakspear beers has been successfully replicated by their current brewer, Wychwood.
The company invested in installing the original Brakspear brewing vessels at its base in Witney, Oxfordshire, two years ago.
Sceptics at the time were doubtful whether the unique Brakspear flavours could be matched by Wychwood after Brakspear ceased brewing in Henley. But now sales of Brakspear beers are booming in all major channels.
The Brakspear pub estate is now selling 4,500 barrels a year as drinkers return to its eponymous brews.
The strong levels of sales within the 100-strong Brakspear estate reflects the demand in the wider market for the brews, with free trade sales running 40% ahead of two years ago. Bottled beer sales in the off-trade are now 312% ahead of a year ago.
Rupert Thompson, managing director of Wychwood, said: "We are really pleased with sales levels. It was an act of faith by us to enlarge the Wychwood brewery to create a separate Brak-spear fermenting room where we installed the original vessels from Henley, complete with the "Double Drop". Of course, whether you convert this to sales is the challenge."
He added: "I think the Brak-spear pub estate, for example, has been very pleased with the quality and the consistency of the beers we've been producing."
Brakspear chief Don Bridgman said: "Brakspear beers are a highly important part of our sales mix - the quality
of the beer is excellent."
