Brakspear tours

Find out more about Double Drop fermentation, brewery tours and watch brewery films.

Following the closure of Brakspear Brewery in Henley in 2002, a £1million redevelopment of the Wychwood Brewery site was undertaken to move the brewing of Brakspear beers. This included moving and re-installing at Wychwood much of the original Brakspear brewing equipment, including the original Brakspear Copper, dating from 1774, and the famous Brakspear ‘Double Drop’ fermentation vessels, used to brew Brakspear Bitter & Brakspear Triple. Click here to see pictures and read about the brewery redevelopment.

Brakspear ‘Double Drop’

upper fermenting vessels The Brakspear Fermenting Room, at Wychwood Brewery houses six original Brakspear square wooded fermenters lined up along the room, and two circular vessels, situated above these up in the roof eves. This arrangement of vessels is called the “double drop” system and gives Brakspear beers their unique character. Cooled beer coming from the brewhouse starts fermentation in the top-fermenting vessel. (See image to right.)

After 16 hours the beer is then allowed to fall naturally or ‘dropped’ into the vessel below. (See image below right.) In this process any protein or solid material is left behind in the top-fermenting vessel. In addition the beer is gently aerated. The fermentation then continues in the bottom vessel for a further 24-48 hours. The temperature of the fermentation is controlled and the beers regularly checked. When we judge that the fermentation has reached the right point, the brew is cooled down to stop fermentation at the desired strength and gravity. This cooling and maturation process takes a further 3-4 days.

lower fermenting vessels Brakspear Beers are one of the very few beers in the UK to continue to use the ‘Double Drop’.

Brewery tours

If you would like to see the famous ‘Double Drop’ for yourself, Wychwood Brewery run tours every Saturday afternoon at 2pm, 2.30pm, 4pm and 4.30pm and on Sundays at 2pm and 2.30pm. The 45 minute tour takes you through the complete brewing process, including Brakspear's famous Double Drop system, and after the tour you are invited to taste a range of beers, which can all be bought from the brewery shop.

Due to exceptional demand pre-booking is necessary. Tours can be booked online or by calling 01993 890800 Monday – Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm.

Brewing movies

The Brewery has also put together a series of movies on the brewing process, narrated by Head Brewer Jeremy Moss. We hope you enjoy the beauty of beer...