Wadworth Brewery facts for kids

Wadworth's Brewery front facade, Devizes

Wadworth is a company that makes beer. It was started in 1875 in a town called Devizes in England. They are most famous for their special beer brand called 6X.

A Look Back: History of Wadworth

Wadworth & Co. began its journey in 1875. That's when Henry Wadworth bought a place called the Northgate Brewery in Devizes. Soon, they needed more space because they were making so much beer! So, in 1885, they moved to a new, bigger building nearby. Since then, Wadworth has been a very important part of Devizes. They have also provided a lot of ale to people in the south of England.

Wadworth's Brewery, Devizes

The brewery building you see today, called the Northgate Brewery, opened in 1885. It's a special kind of building known as a tower brewery, which means it's built tall to help with the brewing process.

Wadworth's Different Beers

While 6X is their most well-known beer, Wadworth also makes many other types. They even have special beers that are only available at certain times of the year!

Here are some beers you can find all year round:

• 6X
• Henry's Original IPA
• Horizon – A golden-colored ale
• Bishop's Tipple – Another golden ale with a rich flavor
• Swordfish – A special blend of 6X with a touch of Pusser's Navy Rum
• Corvus – A dark beer (called a stout) that tastes like chocolate and coffee, with a creamy top.

Here are some Seasonal beers that appear at different times:

• St George & The Dragon – (Available in March and April)
• Lily The Pink – A mix of golden beer and a special flavor called Angostura bitters
• Red, White & Brew – A golden beer with a strong hop flavor. It was first made to celebrate big events like the Jubilee and the Olympics. (Available May–July)
• Farmers Glory – A traditional English ale (Available July and August)
• Malt & Hops – Made using fresh hops straight from the plant (Available September and October)
• Blunderbuss – A red autumn ale flavored with elderberry (Available in autumn)
• Old Timer – A warm winter ale (Available December and January)

Shire horses pulling a Wadworth Brewery dray. These horses usually deliver beer to local pubs. Here, people are enjoying a ride!

All About 6X Beer

The "X" in 6X comes from an old way of describing how strong a beer was. This beer was first made in 1923. In 2007, 6X won an award called the "Best Of British Beer Award" for its region. You can find 6X in different forms, like in barrels for pubs, or in cans and bottles.

How Wadworth Operates

Wadworth still uses big, strong shire horses to deliver their beer barrels to local pubs in Devizes. These horses usually travel about 5 miles from the brewery. For deliveries further away, they use trucks. The beer can be delivered in metal or wooden barrels.

The brewery has four special horses named Monty, Max, Archie, and Sam. They live right at the brewery! Besides delivering beer, these horses also go to shows and events all over the country. You might even see them in local newspapers or on TV shows like Countryfile.

Wadworth also has a Visitor Centre and a gift shop at the brewery. You can take tours to see how the beer is made. Some tours even let you try different Wadworth beers. You can also visit the shire horses and see the special shop where signs are painted by hand.