Thank you for visiting the Beachy Head Brewery Website. If you would like to visit the brewery, we can provide Brewery Tours on Tuesday afternoon, please e-mail or telephone for details. Contact details below
HISTORY
The brewery was established in November 2006, as part of the farm’s diversification away from intensive arable production towards sustainable farming and environmental improvements. Using an old farm building in the valley between East Dean and Birling Farm, the 2.5 barrel brewery was installed and the first ale produced in December. Stocks have been built up and we went to market on 27th February 2007.
Roger Green and Charlie Davies-Gilbert set up the Brewery, Roger the Gardener at Birling Manor approached Charlie about using a farm building for a micro-brewery and having sampled a few of Roger's excellent home brews, the use of the building was deemed a good idea and the Beachy Head Brewery was formed.
SUCCESS
In November 2007, we entered the cask market at the Eastbourne Beer Festival and sold out in 3 hours of the 4 day event. In February 2008, Waitrose took delivery of our Original Ale in Eastbourne and Hailsham, where it is their best selling ale out of 30 bottled beers and in April 2008, three of our Real Ale in a Bottle beers picked up Gold, Silver and Bronze awards from the South East Sussex CAMRA branch. The Original won Gold and is now entererd into the London and South East competion.
ENVIRONMENT
The Brewery is part of the farming business which helps maintain the countryside, woodland, flora and fauna around Beachy Head. The farm includes 4.5 km's of flint walls all of which maintaining. The success of the brewery will ensure the enhancement of the local environment and wildlife. In June 2008 Farmers Weekly have shortlisted Charlie as Diversification Farmer of the Year on account of our works.
THE BEER
All our Ales contain live yeast and should be poured carefully to leave a small amount of sediment in the bottle. Best served at a cool temperature
ORIGINAL ALE - 4.5% Alc. Vol.
Beachy Head “Original Ale” is a bottle conditioned bitter produced with only, water, floor malted barley (optic and crystal) and Challenger Hops from English producers. It is English bitter with a strong hoppy flavour with light floral notes. This bottle conditioned ale won first prize from CAMRA South East Sussex branch, competing against 47 different ales.
LEGLESS RAMBLER - 5.2% Alc.Vol
This ale uses the brambling cross hops which give it a distinct flavour. The name is given in tribute to all those who walk the wonderful South Downs Way from Winchester to Beachy Head and celebrate accordingly. Silver
PARSON DARBY'S HOLE - 4% Alc.Vol
A dark ale /stout. The name is taken from the legendary Parson Darby who saved many lives at Beachy Head. Parson Darby was appalled by the number of shipwrecks and drowned sailors and he knew what was needed was a reliable, fixed light that would warn the men at sea of the whereabouts of the Beachy Head coastline. So he excavated "Parson Darby's Hole" in the caverns that already existed near Belle Tout. He created a chimney that led up from the coast and "rooms" above it where he set lights on ledges on very stormy nights. He often spent whole night's in his caves watching the sea and many lives were saved. Even when ships were actually wrecked, some sailors were pulled to safety into Parson Darby's Hole.
We were delighted to be visited by CAMRA and the team from the "Sussex Drinker", their thoughts on our beers are on page 12 of the link
BEACHY HEAD ALE IS AVAILABLE ON TAP/DRAFT FROM THE FOLLOWING PUBS
The Eight Bells Jevington,
The Ship Inn, Meads, Eastbourne
The Star Inn, Star Street, Old Town, Eastbourne
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE OUR ALE PLEASE VISIT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING SHOPS:
EAST DEAN VILLAGE
East Dean Barn Stores, T. 01323 422 456
Hikers Rest, Village Green, East Dean T. 01323 423 733
EASTBOURNE
Cooden Cellars, 14 Grand Hotel Buildings, Eastbourne, T. 01323 649 663
Threshers Meads Street, Meads, Eastbourne T. 01323-733201
Waitrose, Old Town, Eastbourne, T. 01323 644505
Grand Hotel, King Edward's Parade, Eastbourne T. 01323 412345
Hydro Hotel, Mount Road, Eastbourne T. 01323 720643
Lansdowne Hotel, King Edward's Parade, Eastbourne T. 01323 725174
SEAFORD
Bottle and Basket, Seaford, T.01323 892 532
The Silverdale Hotel, Seaford T. 01323 491 849
LOCAL VILLAGES, FARM SHOPS AND TOWNS
Waitrose, Town Centre, Hailsham, T. 01323 846 708
Berwick Village Stores, Berwick T. 01323 870 200
Alfriston Village Store, Alfriston T. 01323 870 201
Crossways, Willmington T. 0845 612 0101
Middle Farm, Firle T. 01323 811 411
Contact:
Charlie Davies-Gilbert
E. Charlie@beachyhead.org.uk
T. 01323 423 906
A. The Dipperays, Upper Street, East Dean, East Sussex, BN20 0BS
