In 1768 a publication "Everyman His Own Brewer" stated "the malt liquors that chiefly circulate the home markets are London, Burton and Yorkshire Ales, Dorchester, Marlborough and Ramsbury beers". The Wiltshire directory 1791-97 states that "Ramsbury is noted for the excellent beer of which there is a great consumption in London"
 is the modern equivalent of an age-old tradition.
Why did it produce excellent beer? The water is some of the purest in southern England. Rain falling on the high chalk downs, filters its way through the strata where it emerges as springs (source of the River Kennet) or is artificially pumped from wells deep underground to centres of population. This same soil, which filters the water, is the very lifeblood of the barley, which grows on the surface. Generations of farmers planted seed on the Downs of Wiltshire, reaping the internationally acclaimed barley at harvest.
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Varieties such as Maris Otter, and Chariot are eagerly sought after by the brewing industry and will probably out perform barley grown in other parts of the country. As a result the Ramsbury Brewery was born, we had the water and we grow the barley. Concieved in September 2003, brewing started in 2004.
A redundant farm building formed the nucleus, stripped out - re-roofed and fitted out to the highest hygiene standards, commenced in April 2004. All done with local labour it was ready for production in October 2004. Using a recipe formulated by our consultant brewer, our own brewer more than matched the task. 'Gold' was then born. A golden smooth 4.5%ABV beer produced closely followed by our 3.6%ABV standard bitter. The first brews were nerve wracking - but the results exceeded our wildest expectations. |
The estate covers some 5500 acres of some of the most beautiful countryside in southern England. Straddling the Kennet Valley, the land is predominately chalk with outcrops of clay. The higher area is still farmed in the traditional manner, albeit with newer technology and machinery.
Twelve hundred acres of woodland in various blocks (80% broadleaf-oak, ash, beech etc.) support a variety of flora and fauna. A census conducted in 2002 produced figures of the resident population of 220 Fallow deer, approximately 100 Roe deer and numerous smaller Muntjac deer.
To carry on as our forefathers did, nearly 50,000 trees over the past seven years have been planted, either to regenerate woodland after felling or planting on new formerly arable areas.
The main stream farming operations are mainly centred on grain production, although a certain amount of oil seeds are grown to keep our crop rotation in sync.
Malting barley of which we grow approximately two thousand tonnes per year is exported all over Europe. The lower grade barley, which contains higher nitrogen levels, is used mainly for lager production on the continent. Wheat and oats are usually for bread, biscuits or breakfast cereal production.
Farming today is all about animal welfare and producing crops to the highest environmental standard. All crops here have traceablity in terms of planting, growing, harvesting and storage, so selling to brewers, flour mills etc. gives us an advantage.
To this end - local produce, local water, why not produce our own beer?
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The River Kennet gives the estate a premier position in the area of traditional chalkstream fishing. The crystal clear water supports a variety of life including plants, such as water crowfoot only found in unpolluted waters. Fishing for Brown Trout and the occasional Grayling is coveted by anglers worldwide.
The surrounding watermeadows are rich in species of wetland plants - and are grazed by the estates Highland or Aberdeen Angus cross cattle. The sheep flock is mainly confined to the higher and dryer grass downland, giving that age old scene which would not be out of place in a painting by Constable or Baxter-Morgan.
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