Woodforde's Brewery

Woodforde's has been brewing in Norfolk since 1981, when it produced its first commercial beer in the village of Drayton, just outside Norwich. The brewery takes its name from Parson James Woodforde, an 18th-century clergyman whose detailed diaries recorded a genuine enthusiasm for good food and well-kept ale. It's an apt namesake for a brewery that has always made traditional English cask ales its core business.

The flagship beer, Wherry, won CAMRA's Supreme Champion Beer of Britain in 1996 and remains the anchor of the range. By the late 2010s, Woodforde's had grown into the largest brewery in Norfolk, producing over 20,000 barrels annually and distributing across the country. Alongside Wherry they produce Nelson's Revenge, Bure Gold, Nog, and a Hazy IPA, as well as seasonal releases and a range influenced by their American head brewer.

Their first move into the low-alcohol category came in late 2024 with the launch of Volt 0.5, a 0.5% ABV American IPA that's also vegan and gluten-free. It's a single product rather than a dedicated AF range, but it's a considered addition: the Volt name comes from one of their existing American IPA recipes, so it has a clear place in the lineup rather than feeling like a box-ticking exercise.

Woodforde's sits in the reliable, well-regarded middle ground of British craft brewing. Not chasing trends, not coasting on heritage alone.

The Collection

VOLT 0.5 IPA