Warwickshire Beer Company

Warwickshire Beer Company is a small English brewing business based in Cubbington, Warwickshire. It began in late 1998 after the closure of Warwickshire Brewery in nearby Kenilworth, establishing itself in a former village bakery. The company represents the local microbrewery model: it operates with relatively modest production capacity, uses a substantial amount of second-hand brewing equipment, and combines beer production with direct involvement in pubs and local community activity. The brewery initially operated with six barrels of capacity and later expanded to approximately 26 barrels. Its equipment has included hot-liquor tanks sourced from a Scottish and Newcastle brewery and fermenters originally used as dairy tanks, reflecting the cost-conscious and adaptable practices common among small independent breweries. The business has produced a range of bottled beers and cask beers, while also offering bespoke brewing for customers and organisations seeking a beer made to a particular brief. Its custom-brew work has included Brakes Fluid, created in 2005 to mark Leamington F.C.'s FA Cup run. The brewery has also used special releases for charitable purposes. Old Warwick was brewed in 2003 to raise funds for Guide Dogs for the Blind, an initiative described as becoming an ongoing process. These projects illustrate the company's emphasis on local identity, football associations, fundraising, and community relationships rather than national-scale brand building. Warwickshire Beer Company's activities have extended beyond the brewery itself. The company purchased its first pub in 2000 and a second in 2004; both were known as The Market Tavern, one in Southam and the other in Atherstone. It later took over the Atherstone pub then known as Bodaceas in 2007 and subsequently became associated with The Jolly Brewer in Rugby. The pub estate provided venues in which the company's beers could be sold directly, strengthening the connection between production and local hospitality. The brewery's beers have been associated with the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), with the available reference material stating that its drinks were approved by the organisation. Distribution also expanded beyond tied or company-operated venues: in 2008, two major national stores stocked selected Warwickshire Beer Company products, a notable step for a small regional producer. Publicly available reference material does not establish the company's current ownership, leadership, website, financial position, or present operating status, so those details remain unconfirmed.

Warwickshire Beer Company emerged in late 1998 in response to the loss of a nearby local brewing institution. Warwickshire Brewery in Kenilworth had closed, and the new company established itself a few miles away in Cubbington, using an old village bakery as its base. Rather than beginning as a large industrial brewery, it adopted the equipment and operating methods associated with small independent producers. Its early plant included second-hand components, including hot-liquor tanks obtained from a Scottish and Newcastle brewery and fermenters that had previously served as dairy tanks. The brewery started with capacity of six barrels and later grew to approximately 26 barrels. This expansion remained within the scale of a regional microbrewery, allowing the company to maintain a varied production programme while serving local pubs and other outlets. Its range included bottled beers and cask beers, and it also had the ability to brew beverages to a purchaser's specification. Bespoke production enabled the brewery to respond to local events and organisations rather than relying solely on a fixed, nationally distributed portfolio. Community and regional associations became an important part of the company's identity. In 2003, it produced Old Warwick as a fundraising beer for Guide Dogs for the Blind. The charitable brewing activity was described as an ongoing process. In 2005, the company made Brakes Fluid to commemorate Leamington F.C.'s FA Cup run, using the club's nickname, The Brakes, as the basis for the beer's name. These releases connected the brewery's products with local causes and sporting culture. The company also developed a pub operation. It purchased its first pub in 2000 and a second in 2004; both were called The Market Tavern, with locations in Southam and Atherstone. In 2007, it took over the Atherstone venue then known as Bodaceas. The business was subsequently associated with The Jolly Brewer in Rugby. These venues gave the brewery a direct route to consumers and helped support the sale of its own beers in the local hospitality market. The available reference account states that Warwickshire Beer Company's drinks were approved by CAMRA, linking the brewery to Britain's real-ale culture. By 2008, selected products were also stocked by two major national stores, representing a significant distribution milestone for a business that had developed from a small local production base. The cited material does not provide a complete beer catalogue, current leadership details, ownership information, financial data, or a confirmed present-day operating position. Accordingly, the company's later history and current status require further verification.

• 2008

  National retail distribution begins

  [1]Warwickshire Beer Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Two major national stores begin stocking selected Warwickshire Beer Company beers.

• 2007

  Atherstone pub taken over

  [1]Warwickshire Beer Companyen.wikipedia.org

  The company takes over the Atherstone pub then operating under the name Bodaceas.

• 2005

  Brakes Fluid brewed for Leamington F.C.

  [1]Warwickshire Beer Companyen.wikipedia.org

  The brewery produces a bespoke beer celebrating Leamington F.C.'s FA Cup run.

• 2004

  Second pub acquired

  [1]Warwickshire Beer Companyen.wikipedia.org

  The company purchases a second pub; the two early company pubs are known as The Market Tavern in Southam and Atherstone.

• 2003

  Old Warwick fundraising beer released

  [1]Warwickshire Beer Companyen.wikipedia.org

  A special Old Warwick brew is produced to raise money for Guide Dogs for the Blind.

• 2000

  First pub acquired

  [1]Warwickshire Beer Companyen.wikipedia.org

  The company purchases its first pub, later identified as one of the Market Tavern venues.

• 1998

  Company begins brewing in Cubbington

  [1]Warwickshire Beer Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Warwickshire Beer Company starts operations in a former village bakery following the closure of Warwickshire Brewery in Kenilworth.

Independent regional microbrewery focused on locally connected beers, cask and bottled production, bespoke brewing, community fundraising, and pub-led distribution.

• Bottled beer

  Bottled beer range

  The brewery produced eight types of bottled beer according to the cited reference material. The source does not provide the individual names or detailed styles of the bottled range, so the portfolio is recorded here at category level rather than expanded with unverified product names.

• Cask beer

  Cask beer range

  Warwickshire Beer Company was reported to offer nine beers in barrels, serving the traditional cask and real-ale market. Individual beer names and recipes are not identified in the available material.

• Special and charitable brew · 2003

  Old Warwick

  Old Warwick was a special beer produced in 2003 to raise funds for Guide Dogs for the Blind. The release is notable as an example of the brewery using a named product for charitable and community engagement. The available source does not specify its beer style, recipe, or continuing availability.

• Bespoke event beer · 2005

  Brakes Fluid

  Brakes Fluid was a bespoke beer brewed in 2005 to celebrate Leamington F.C.'s FA Cup run. Its name referred to the club's nickname, The Brakes. The available reference does not indicate whether the beer remained in production after the event.

• 2005Brakes Fluid and Leamington F.C.'s FA Cup run

  United Kingdom

  Warwickshire Beer Company brewed Brakes Fluid as a bespoke celebration of Leamington F.C.'s FA Cup campaign.

  Outcome. The cited material confirms the commemorative brew but gives no sales or commercial performance figures.

  Source
• 2003Old Warwick for Guide Dogs for the Blind

  United Kingdom

  The brewery created a special beer named Old Warwick to support Guide Dogs for the Blind through fundraising.

  Outcome. The activity was described as becoming an ongoing charitable process, but the amount raised is not reported.

  Source

• 2008

  Broaden retail distributionStrategy

  Background

  The brewery had primarily developed through local production and company-linked pubs.

  Action taken

  Selected Warwickshire Beer Company beers were placed in two major national stores.

  Aftermath

  The move was described as a significant development for the brewery, but the retailers, products, sales, and duration of the listings are not specified.

  Source

• 2007

  Expand the company-operated pub estateStrategy

  Background

  After acquiring pubs in 2000 and 2004, the company continued linking its brewing business with local hospitality venues.

  Action taken

  It took over the Atherstone venue then known as Bodaceas and later became associated with The Jolly Brewer in Rugby.

  Aftermath

  The pub network provided additional direct outlets for the brewery's beers, although the later status of these venues is not confirmed by the cited material.

  Source

• 1998

  Launch as a local microbreweryStrategy

  Background

  The company was formed after the closure of Warwickshire Brewery in Kenilworth, creating an opportunity for a new local producer.

  Action taken

  It established a small brewery in a former Cubbington bakery and used largely second-hand equipment to begin production.

  Aftermath

  The business developed a regional brewing and pub operation, later expanding from six barrels of capacity to approximately 26 barrels.

  Source

• 2008

  Selected Warwickshire beers reach major national stores[1]Warwickshire Beer Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Two major national retailers began stocking selected Warwickshire Beer Company beers, marking an expansion beyond its regional brewery and pub network.

• 2005

  Brakes Fluid created for Leamington F.C.'s FA Cup run[1]Warwickshire Beer Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Campaign · Product launch

  The brewery made the bespoke beer Brakes Fluid to celebrate Leamington F.C.'s FA Cup campaign.

• 2003

  Old Warwick special brew supports Guide Dogs for the Blind[1]Warwickshire Beer Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Campaign

  Warwickshire Beer Company produced Old Warwick as a fundraising beer for Guide Dogs for the Blind, with the brewery describing the charitable activity as continuing thereafter.

• 1998

  Warwickshire Beer Company begins brewing in Cubbington[1]Warwickshire Beer Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The company began operations in a former village bakery in Cubbington after the closure of Warwickshire Brewery in Kenilworth.

1. 1Warwickshire Beer Companyen.wikipedia.org