Our Story
At Vibrant Forest Brewery, we live and breathe bold, flavour-packed beer. What started as a passion project has grown into a full-fledged adventure, dedicated to crafting modern, 100% natural and vegan-friendly beers.
Who are we
At Vibrant Forest Brewery, we’re driven by bold flavours, creativity, and a passion for great beer. What started in a tiny garage in 2011 has grown into a thriving brewery on the edge of the New Forest. We brew without compromise – unfiltered, unpasteurised, and 100% vegan – delivering maximum flavour just as nature intended. With a small, dedicated team, we focus on quality and variety, constantly rotating our lineup to keep things fresh. No gimmicks, just exceptional beer, brewed on the edge of the New Forest. We brew without compromise – unfiltered, unpasteurised, and 100% vegan – delivering maximum flavour just as nature intended. With a small, dedicated team, we focus on quality and variety, constantly rotating our lineup to keep things fresh. No gimmicks, just exceptional beer, brewed with heart.
Humble
Beginnings
Vibrant Forest Brewery started in a small garage in 2011.
Steady
Growth
From a hobby to four industrial units near the New Forest.
Passion-Driven
Brewing
Quality comes first, guided by imagination, not budgets.
Natural & Vegan-Friendly
Unfiltered, unfined, and packed with flavour.
Small Team,
Big Heart
A small passionate team of people with no plans for global domination
Our Mission & Values
Our mission is simple: to craft beers that excite and inspire. We believe in creativity over conformity, prioritising flavour and innovation above all else. Every beer is made with care, using natural ingredients, and always staying true to our ethos of independence. We’re committed to our local community and keeping beer adventurous
Our Journey
From humble beginnings in a garage to a thriving brewery on the edge of the New Forest, our story is one of passion, creativity, and constant evolution. Explore the key moments that have shaped Vibrant Forest Brewery and brought us to where we are today.
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.
Kevin's Garage
Expansion - leap of faith!
2014
The New Brewery
Our new modern brew kit arrived in April 2014, and the first (and nervous!) brew was Flying Saucer, a 4.3% light hoppy beer with citrusy American hops. During the wait for this new equipment, we continued to brew on our 1 BBL kit at our new site on the edge of Lymington, New Forest. We also built a small bar from pallet wood and opened it to the public on weekends
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.
Our first birthday bash
Brand new site
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.
2019-Present
Modern Expansion
Our new home in Hardley has benefited from major investment, with modern facilities and a vibrant taproom that’s become a real hub for the local community. We’ve also expanded our original brewing equipment and built a talented, passionate team — all so we can keep doing what we love: brewing great beer!
New Equipment
The Vibrant Tap
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.
2025
Present day
Fast forward 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 to countires in Europe. Our two thriving taprooms are a testament to our growth and the support of our loyal customers.