Ramsbury Brewery

A recent visit to Wiltshire included a stop over in the Bell at Ramsbury, a fine pub in it's own right but made even better as its the showcase for the Ramsbury Brewery brands.

The pub itself is full of character and the food all that you would expect from a small rural town business at the heart of its community. Quite distinctive but wholesome. We also loved the honesty bar for those staying, at the top of the stairs and adjacent to the rooms. A great idea!

My first Ramsbury was the Flint Knapper, a good beer but it this was quickly followed but the Ramsbury 506 and what a great beer this is. A 5% IPA style brew, it was well balanced citrus, bitter and a touch of malt. I really like Hopback Summer Lightning but the 506 is certainly up there with it.

An unusual name, 506 is named after the American Parachute Regiment that was based in Ramsbury during the Second World War and the beer is a fitting tribute.

Ramsbury Brewery itself forms part of Ramsbury Estates, a large long established farming business on the outskirts of Ramsbury. The farm grows barley for brewing including the sought after Maris Otter variety and forms part of the stunning Kennet Valley. Living in Cornwall it's difficult to imagine countryside that will match the far South West but this certainly comes close.

The 506 was the start, but there are other beers worth a mention. Ramsbury Gold is the breweries best seller and you can see why. A golden easy drinking beer, it is a fine balance of malt and hops and the superb colour makes it very attractive to drinkers.

The next are probably two marmite beers. I'm not a great fan on honey beers, being too sweet and I prefer a hop bitterness. The Honeybee is a good honey beer and will have its fans but its not for me.


The final beer is a real marmite of a beast at 6.1% abv, quite literally! Named after the specialist breed of cattle farmed on the estate, the beer is quite a challenge. I found it a real meaty beer, quite smokey bacon, a bit spirituous and on the sweet side. However some people loved this beer and having used it at beer tastings and as part of the Craft Bottle Beer range we offer, I can appreciate it's finer points.

Good luck to Ramsbury Brewery, they are about to invest in a new brewery and they brew some great beers. Do try them if you see them.