Moles Brewery

Moles Brewery was an English brewery based at Bowerhill in Melksham, Wiltshire. It originated within a rural Wiltshire mineral-water business and was created as a diversification into traditional cask beer. A custom-built 10-barrel plant was installed in the company's brewhouse, allowing it to produce real ales on a relatively small scale. The brewery was named after the nickname of its new owner, although the available reference material does not identify that owner by name. The brewery's first real ale was Moles Cask Bitter. It was described as an all-malt beer made without added sugars, positioning the initial range around traditional real-ale production rather than mass-market lager. The business expanded beyond brewing through ownership and operation of public houses. In October 1985, it purchased the freehold of the Rising Sun on Bowden Hill in Lacock, and it subsequently acquired additional pubs, reaching seven over time. Moles broadened its drinks portfolio in 1995 with the introduction of Black Rat cider. Although the available material provides limited detail about the cider's production and distribution, the launch marked an important extension beyond the brewery's original real-ale focus. The company also operated a drinks wholesale business, Cascade Drinks Limited, alongside its brewing and pub interests. A significant ownership transition took place in July 2017. On the retirement of the founders, the Moles brands were sold to Wickwar Wessex Brewing Company, a brewer based in Wickwar, Gloucestershire. The transaction also included six pubs and Cascade Drinks Limited. The reference material does not specify the purchase price, the identities of the retiring founders, or the subsequent operating arrangements for each brand and property. Accordingly, Moles Brewery's present standalone operating status is not clear from the available sources. Its documented historical identity is that of a regional Wiltshire brewer whose business developed from mineral-water production into real ale, cider, pubs, and drinks wholesale.

Moles Brewery was established in 1985 in Bowerhill, Melksham, Wiltshire. Before brewing, the underlying business produced mineral water in rural Wiltshire. The company diversified by developing its own real ales and installing a purpose-built 10-barrel brewing plant in the brewhouse. The new brewery took the name Moles Brewery, reportedly drawing on the nickname of its new owner. Its first documented beer was Moles Cask Bitter, an all-malt real ale made without added sugars. This initial product established the brewery's traditional cask-ale identity. In the same year, the business entered the pub trade by purchasing the freehold of the Rising Sun on Bowden Hill in Lacock. It later acquired further pubs and eventually held seven public houses, creating a vertically connected model that combined brewing with hospitality. In 1995, Moles introduced Black Rat cider, expanding its offer beyond beer. The business also developed a drinks wholesale operation under the name Cascade Drinks Limited. These activities made Moles more than a standalone brewery: it became a regional drinks company with brewing, cider, pub, and distribution interests. The next major turning point came in July 2017, when the founders retired. Moles' brands were sold to Wickwar Wessex Brewing Company of Wickwar, Gloucestershire. The sale included six pubs and Cascade Drinks Limited. The available reference material does not state whether all brewing continued at the original Melksham facility, whether the brands retained separate production, or how the remaining property and product portfolio were managed after the transaction. It therefore supports a documented account of Moles Brewery's history through the 2017 sale, but not a definitive description of its current independent status.

• 2017

  Brands and associated businesses sold to Wickwar Wessex

  [1]Moles Breweryen.wikipedia.org

  Following the founders' retirement, Moles' brands, six pubs, and Cascade Drinks Limited were sold to Wickwar Wessex Brewing Company.

• 1995

  Black Rat cider introduced

  [1]Moles Breweryen.wikipedia.org

  The company expanded its drinks portfolio with the introduction of Black Rat cider.

• 1985

  Moles Brewery established in Melksham

  [1]Moles Breweryen.wikipedia.org

  A 10-barrel plant was installed at Bowerhill in Melksham as a diversification from the company's mineral-water business into real-ale production.

• 1985

  Rising Sun pub acquired

  [1]Moles Breweryen.wikipedia.org

  Moles Brewery purchased the freehold of the Rising Sun on Bowden Hill in Lacock, beginning an expansion into pub ownership.

A regional Wiltshire drinks brand rooted in traditional real ale, with a broader portfolio that later included cider, pubs, and drinks wholesale.

• Real ale · 1985

  Moles Cask Bitter

  Moles Cask Bitter was the brewery's first documented real-ale offering. It was described as an all-malt brew made without added sugars, reflecting the brewery's traditional cask-beer positioning at its launch.

• Cider · 1995

  Black Rat cider

  Black Rat cider was introduced by Moles in 1995. Its launch broadened the company's portfolio from real ale into cider, although the available reference material does not provide further specifications about the product's style, strength, or production site.

• 2017

  Sale to Wickwar Wessex Brewing CompanyM&A

  Background

  The founders retired, prompting a change in ownership of the Moles business.

  Action taken

  Moles' brands were sold to Wickwar Wessex Brewing Company, together with six pubs and Cascade Drinks Limited.

  Aftermath

  Moles ceased to be documented as an independently owned business, while the available material does not establish the precise post-sale operating structure.

  Source

• 1995

  Launch of Black Rat ciderProduct launch

  Background

  Moles had established itself through real ale and sought to broaden its drinks portfolio.

  Action taken

  The company introduced Black Rat cider.

  Aftermath

  The launch extended the brand's documented product scope beyond beer, although subsequent performance is not available in the reference material.

  Source

• 1985

  Diversification from mineral water into real aleStrategy

  Background

  The underlying Wiltshire business had produced mineral water and sought to diversify its activities.

  Action taken

  A custom-built 10-barrel plant was installed at Bowerhill, Melksham, and the company began producing its own real ales under the Moles Brewery name.

  Aftermath

  The move created a regional brewing business that later expanded into pubs, cider, and drinks wholesale.

  Source

• 2017

  Moles brands sold to Wickwar Wessex after founders' retirement[1]Moles Breweryen.wikipedia.org

  M&A · Leadership change

  Moles Brewery's brands were sold to Wickwar Wessex Brewing Company. The transaction also covered six pubs and the Cascade Drinks Limited wholesale business.

1. 1Moles Breweryen.wikipedia.org