Brewery of the Day: Wye Valley

If you like your pint with a real sense of where it comes from, Wye Valley Brewery is one to look out for. It started life in 1985 when former Guinness brewer Peter Amor set up a tiny brewery behind a Herefordshire pub. Forty-one years later, it’s still independent and family-owned, but those humble beginnings have grown into more than 15 million pints enjoyed each year and beers pouring in over 1,200 pubs and bars. Not bad for something that started behind the bar.

And Wye Valley really does taste of its home turf. The brewery sits right in the heart of Herefordshire hop country and more than half of its hops are grown within just 10 miles – so when you’re drinking a pint of Wye Valley cask, there’s a good chance the hops haven’t travelled very far at all. Even some of the brewery’s original casks from 1985 are apparently still doing the rounds. We’d love to know how many good nights out those have witnessed.

That combination of local roots and a loyal following is exactly why we’re celebrating Wye Valley during Cask Ale Week. Whether you already know their pump clips well or you’re about to order one for the first time, this is proper independent brewing with Herefordshire running right through it. So if you spot Wye Valley on the bar this week, you know what to do. Find a pint, find some friends and give it a try. Cheers!

Discover more: Visit Wye Valley Brewery and read about the latest chapter in this independent family brewery’s story.