This page was last on 03 February 2008 22:46:37.

The 'old' Forest of Dean only has one Brewery - FREEMINER - but below Freeminer I have listed those within Gloucestershire.

Freeminer, Cinderford

Don set up the Freeminer Brewery in 1992 in Sling near Coleford.  The brewery was moved to Cinderford in late 2000.  Freeminer is named after the ancient tradition that people born within the Forest of Dean and who have worked in a pit for a year and a day can open a mine – with few restrictions – wherever they want.  Don makes the effort to use quality ingredients, and this comes through in the final product.  Beers are commonly named after local coal and iron mines.  Don himself is active in the independent brewers association, SIBA.  The following pictures were taken in early 2001 at the Cinderford site, shortly after brewing was moved there.

Donnington

Although drinkable, none of the beers come near my favourite list, but again this is my subjective judgement.  The brewery is in an old water mill and apparently still uses this machinery to assist with the brewing.  Claude passed away in 2007 but the Arkell family is keeping brewing going in the same style.

Goffs, Winchcombe

Although I have enjoyed a number of pints of Jouster in the past, my subjective feeling on Goffs is that their beers are an acquired taste.  They supply widely in Gloucestershire, and make occasional forays to the Forest.  The brewery was started in 1994.  

Spinning Dog, Hereford

Based in the Victory public house Spinning Dog provides a number of quite drinkable beers.  Makes occasional forays into the Forest area.  Beers are named on a dog theme.

Stanway, Cheltenham

The stock beer is Stanney Bitter and for the most part I have only had it at beer festivals.  I have never seen it for sale in the Forest, but from memory the beer was good.  

Uley Brewery, Uley

The only brewery visit that I organised was to Uley, and I certainly didn’t regret it!  A relatively small building, we soon got down to the important stuff – drinking the beer in the low-arched cellar.  Brew one of my favourite beers – Old Spot – and I find all their beers very drinkable.  There has been a brewery on the site for close to 170 years, although Chas only started it up again in 1985.   One of his beers is named after the ex-landlord of the Old Spot in Dursley (which was an excellent pub when he ran it) – Old Rick.

Whittington Brewery (Three Choirs Vineyard)

In 2003 the vineyard decided to make more revenue out of its visiting client base and opened a brewery on site.  On the financial side they can then use the bottling line to make the most of the work they do, but a number of local cider producers initially had to look elsewhere to get bottling done.  Now available in cask as well as bottles.

Wickwar Brewery, Wickwar

Main beers are BOB (Brand Oak Bitter) and Mr. Perrots Stout.  BOB is a good bitter.  They are established around the Bristol area, but do travel to the forest.