Welbeck Abbey Brewery
Traditional real ales brewed on the Welbeck Estate in Sherwood Forest.
Nestled within the Welbeck Estate in Sherwood Forest, near Worksop, Nottinghamshire, Welbeck Abbey Brewery crafts traditional real ales with a range of different yeasts. It opened its doors in March 2011, a joint venture between the Kelham Island Brewery and the Welbeck Estates Company. The brewery’s beers are sold at the Welbeck Farm Shop and have featured at local events such as the Notts Winter Weekend festival. It also offers classes in ale production and ships its products to more than 70 countries.
Among its offerings is Henrietta, a golden Session IPA. In 2013, a group of female brewers collaborated to create Venus Red, a 4.6% ale that hit the shelves that June, a project celebrating the achievements of women in brewing. In early 2020, the brewery partnered with the local branch of Age UK to produce Men in Sheds, a 4.8% IPA named after the men’s shed project, which gave older men isolated at home a creative outlet. From 2012 until 2015, the brewery’s site also housed True North, another brewery that later moved to its own premises in Sheffield.
Like many breweries, Welbeck Abbey suffered a steep decline in trade during the COVID-19 pandemic, with sales dropping 55% in 2020 compared to the previous year. Many staff were furloughed, though a skeleton crew remained to keep the yeast cultures alive. The Welbeck Winter Weekend, an annual event showcasing estate produce including the brewery’s beers, was cancelled that year.
Quick Facts
- Founded
- March 2011
- Location
- near Worksop, Nottinghamshire, on the Welbeck Estate in Sherwood Forest
- Founders
- Kelham Island Brewery and the Welbeck Estates Company
- Notable beers
- Henrietta (golden Session IPA)
- Venus Red (4.6% ale)
- Men in Sheds (4.8% IPA)
- Export markets
- over 70 countries
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The brewery was founded in March 2011 by the Kelham Island Brewery and the Welbeck Estates Company. It originally housed another brewery, True North, from 2012 until True North opened its own premises in Sheffield in 2015. In 2013, a group of female brewers produced Venus Red, a 4.6% ale that went on sale that June, a project designed to celebrate success with women brewers. In early 2020, the brewery partnered with the local branch of Age UK to create Men in Sheds, a 4.8% IPA created by older men seeking a project outside their isolated homes, named after the men's shed. The brewery runs classes in ale production and exports to over 70 countries. Its produce is available at the Welbeck Farm Shop and has been exhibited at local fairs including the Notts Winter Weekend festival.
Reader's Guide
Welbeck Abbey Brewery occupies a distinct place in English brewing as a modern estate-based brewery rooted in traditional real ale production. Its founding in 2011 by the Kelham Island Brewery and the Welbeck Estates Company brought together established brewing expertise and a historic landed estate. The brewery's use of a variety of yeasts and its focus on traditional methods align it with the craft ale movement while maintaining a local identity tied to Sherwood Forest. Notable community-oriented projects include the 2013 Venus Red, brewed by a group of women to celebrate female brewers, and the 2020 Men in Sheds IPA, created in partnership with Age UK by older men seeking connection. The brewery also hosted True North from 2012 until 2015. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a 55% drop in sales in 2020, leading to staff furloughs, though some were retained to keep the yeast in production. The Welbeck Winter Weekend, an annual event featuring the brewery's produce, was cancelled that year. Despite these challenges, the brewery continues to export to over 70 countries and offer brewing classes, underscoring its reach and educational role.
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