Butcombe

The brewery started at a time of widespread industry closures and consolidation, initially building its reputation around its flagship bitter. By 1982, capacity had grown to 5,760 pints per brew. Butcombe changed hands in 2003, then moved to a purpose-built site in Wrington, Somerset, commencing brewing there in February 2005. A bottling, kegging and distribution depot followed in Bridgewater in 2018, and the brewery now produces over 170,000 pints per week. Liberation Group has owned Butcombe since 2015.

The brewery sources Maris Otter malting barley grown by farmer Adam Henson in the Cotswolds, pairs it with English hops and Mendip Spring water, and aims to keep ingredients sustainable, traceable and local. The range spans bitters, pale ales, craft lagers and ciders, with Ashton Press cider among the additions to the portfolio over the years. Butcombe also runs a handful of pubs as part of the business.

Alcohol-free beers joined the lineup in the summer of 2021, extending the range to sober-curious drinkers. The alcohol-free IPA takes its name from a giant in Bristol folklore, connecting the range back to the city where the brewery was born. The beers are brewed using water, barley, wheat and hops.