Features

Gloucestershire Pubs and Breweries, written by Tim Edgell and Geoff Sandles, charts the history of the brewing industry in Gloucestershire. It's certainly not the case now but, during the 19th and early 20th century, there were a great number of small breweries dotted all across our county.

The brewing process

The brewing, as would have been seen in a typical Gloucestershire brewery over a century ago, was done by gravity. Grain, or malt, would be hoisted to the top of the brewery where it would be mixed with water in the first stage of the process. Breweries were often located near a plentiful supply of water like a well or river - like the old Brockhampton Brewery on the River Coln in the Cotswolds.

The malt mixture would be transferred and boiled with the hops. Then the mixture would drop down via gravity to a lower floor where the fermenting vessels were located.

Hidden history

The story of Gloucestershire's breweries, as witnessed in the buildings that can be seen today, is actually a look back at the hidden history of how life was hundreds of years ago. The breweries and pubs were an integral part of life in those days and a snapshot of the social activities of our ancestors.

As well as breweries, there were also a large number of local pubs that were affiliated with them. These pubs, which were tied to individual breweries through beer sales, flourished. Such places were extremely popular with the masses because they were an important social venue for working people.

Brewery turnaround

Strangely we seem to have come full circle with brewing today. The large commercial breweries have ceased production in the county and we are now left with small independent breweries making a comeback once more.

These micro breweries produce specialist beers and ales, keeping the traditions of brewing in Gloucestershire alive. And that's something to raise a glass to!

Listen to the features on the breweries and pubs of Gloucestershire by clicking on the audio links on the top right of this web page.