Woodforde's trebles production in 10 years

Norfolk brewery Woodforde's is celebrating the tenth anniversary since its acquisition by Mike Betts and Dennis Nudd by revealing it has almost trebled production in the past decade.

The brewery has expanded from brewing 6,000 barrels a year in 1999 to its current

production level of 17,000 barrels a year. "The Chancellor of the Exchequer must also be a happy man, because the amount of Excise Duty paid by the brewery each year has increased from £460,000 in 1999, to £1.7m this year," said joint managing director Dennis Nudd.

"In order to achieve this rate of growth, it has been necessary to invest over £2m on the Broadland Brewery site, including building new extensions, the installation of a brand new whole hop brewery alongside the original brewery, and the purchase of several thousand new stainless steel casks," added joint managing director Mike Betts.

"Over the last ten years, the beers have continued to win many high profile awards, and my job is to ensure the high quality and consistency of the beers, without changing the basic outstanding recipes," said head brewer Neil Bain.

"Our beers are all about flavour, and we go to great lengths to buy in the best ingredients that mother-nature can produce each year, including some of the best malting barley in the world from Norfolk farmers, expertly prepared for brewing by Norfolk maltsters — Simpsons Malt at Tivetshall, and Crisps Malt at Great Ryburgh."

The first Woodforde's brewery was built in Drayton near Norwich in 1981, moving to Erpingham just outside Aylsham in 1983. Twenty years ago in 1989 some old disused

and overgrown farm buildings in Woodbastwick were converted into a new brewery,

"We are looking forward to the next ten years as a further period of exciting and steady growth, when we can play a leading role in helping even more people in the UK to enjoy real ale — one of the great pleasures of life," added Nudd.