Josephine Wells was born on October 22 1849 and was the inspiration for founding the Wells family brewery, located in Bedford. The wife of Wells & Co’s founder, Charles Wells, both Josephine and Charles are also the great-great-grandparents of the businesses’ current CEO Peter Wells.
The couple met in the early 1870s and following their marriage in 1872, set up the Horne Lane Brewery, situated on the banks of the River Ouse in Bedford. The couple purchased 36 pubs at auction to establish the Charles Wells Family Brewery, and provided beer to the locals of Bedfordshire. As a result, the Wells & Co name was established.
Limited batch
The Josie 175 is a limited batch of Chardonnay barrel aged pilsner, designed to celebrate the life of Josephine Wells. Commemorating how much of an inspiration she was and continues to be for the business. Josie 175 will be sold in bottles at Brewpoint and the web shop, as well as from one keg to pour at the Brewpoint taproom and also one keg to pour at Beerfly in Bedford.
The group has previously experienced impressive growth in sales despite facing challenges such as costs pressures and rocky political climates throughout previous years. This celebration of the Josie 175 according to Peter Wells, CEO of Wells & Co: "Shows just how far we've come!"
Huge inspiration
All pubs managed by Wells & Co are offering a free pint of Josie 175 from a selected range for guests to raise a glass to Josephine from Tuesday 22 October, until Tuesday 29 October. The remainder of beers on offer will also include Supernova, Lodestar, Foghorn.
Wells added: “Josephine Wells was my great-great-Grandmother and the longstanding wife of our founder, Charles Wells. As a mother of eight and guiding family force.” He continued: “Josephine has been a huge inspiration behind the Brewpoint beer range, having played a significant role in the history of Wells & Co. To be able to commemorate what would have been her 175th birthday..."
