Our History
2011: Humble Beginnings
Brewing began in Kevin's small garage at home on a modest 1 BBL kit, producing about 175 litres of beer at a time. This was enough to make 4 casks of beer for local pubs and beer festivals. The first beer brewed was Summerlands, initially crafted with a different recipe at 3.8% ABV. By October, we received our first CAMRA award with Wheatwave being voted runner-up at Hampshire Oktoberfest. More CAMRA awards followed for beers Flying Saucer and Black Forest during 2012, marking our early success. At this stage, our businesses was still very much part-time, brewing in the evenings and weekends.
2013: Going Full-Time
With our popularity growing, Kevin decided to take the plunge and make brewing his full-time occupation. After extensive searching, he found an industrial unit just outside Lymington and signed the lease in October. Kevin invested his life savings in a new British-made 12 barrel brewery from Malrex Fabrications, taking a significant leap of faith.
2014: The New Brewery
The new brewery arrived in April 2014, and our first new brew, Flying Saucer, a 4.3% light hoppy beer with citrusy American hops, was a hit. During the wait for our new equipment, we continued to brew on our 1 BBL kit at the new site. We also built a small bar from pallet wood and opened it to the public on weekends.
2016-2019: Organic Growth
Over the next few years, our business continued to grow organically. We began hosting our own beer festivals at Brockenhurst Village Hall and expanded our brewing capacity. It became evident that we were outgrowing our space, prompting a search for new premises. In February 2019, after careful consideration, we signed the lease on four brand-new industrial units in Hardley on the edge of the New Forest.
2015: Celebrating Success
Our first year of full-time brewing culminated in a birthday bash in April 2015, where we launched one of our first oak projects—Black Oktober infused with oak and Brandy. This innovative brew was a massive hit and paved the way for future barrel-aged projects.
2024: The Vibrant tap
Born out of the success and passion of our taproom at the brewery, we opened the doors of The Vibrant Tap in the charming town of Lyndhurst in May 2024. Inspired by the lush surroundings of The New Forest, our bar offers a unique experience that combines the rustic beauty of the outdoors with the vibrant energy of our brewery. Serving a wide range of craft beers, wines and spirits paired with a warm inviting atmosphere where friends can gather. With exiting events like live music, quiz nights and beer tastings there’s always something happening.
2019-Present: Modern Expansion
We moved all our brewing equipment from Lymington to Hardley and took delivery of two new fermenters that wouldn't have fit in our old site. We meticulously planned the layout of our new space, including the installation of two mezzanine floors and the build-out of our new taproom. Our new taproom opened June 2019 and we now had a very modern, well-equipped site with an ever-growing taproom. Our new taproom events floor opened in July 2021 and this more than doubled our taproom's capacity and enables us to host private events upstairs.
Present day:
Fast forward ten years from our humble beginnings, we now occupy four modern industrial units in Hardley, producing beer on a 12 BBL kit. Our beer is supplied to pubs and shops throughout the UK, and we export a significant amount to countries such as France, Italy, and Finland. Our thriving taprooms are a testament to our growth and the support of our loyal customers.
Join us at our taprooms to experience our journey from a small garage to a modern brewery and taste the passion we put into every brew!