Editing Ringwood Brewery

{{Short description|Brewery in Ringwood, Hampshire, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox company
| name             = Ringwood Brewery
| logo             = Colour Ringwood Brewery 2013.jpg
| logo_size        = 150px
| type             = 
| predecessor      = 
| successor        = 
| foundation       = 1978
| founder          = [[Peter Austin (brewer)]]
| defunct          = 2024
| location_city    = Ringwood
| location_country = England
| locations        = 
| area_served      = 
| key_people       = 
| industry         = [[Brewing]] 
| products         = [[Beer]] 
| production       = 42,000 [[Barrel (unit)|barrels]] (2013)<ref name="Journal2" />
| revenue          = 
| owner            = 
| num_employees    = 
| parent           = [[Marston's Brewery|Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company (CMBC)]]
| divisions        = 
| subsid           = 
| homepage         = [http://www.ringwoodbrewery.co.uk/ www.ringwoodbrewery.co.uk]
| footnotes        = 
}}
[[File:The Hampshire Hog Ringwood Brewery Ringwood Hampshire - geograph.org.uk - 213781.jpg|thumb|right|Ringwood Brewery]]
'''Ringwood Brewery''' is a brand of beer owned by Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company, and was formerly a small brewery on the edge of the [[New Forest]] in [[Hampshire]], England, near the [[Dorset]] border. It produced mainly [[cask ale]]s and some bottled beers.

The [[emblem]] for the [[brewery]] is a [[boar]].

== History ==

There are records from the early 19th century of four breweries, one owned by a banker named Stephen Tunks, that stood on the site of the present day Ringwood Brewery. Of the four, none survive today. The last to close was Carters on West Street, in 1923.<ref name="Baldwin">{{cite book |last1=Baldwin |first1=Mary |title=Brewers of Old Ringwood |date=1990 |publisher=Ringwood Brewery |isbn=978-0951686102}}</ref>

In 1975 the former head brewery of [[Hull Brewery]], Peter Austin retired to Hampshire to enjoy more time sailing<ref name="AustinObit" /> after a career at Hull dating back to 1945, preceded by a pupillage at [[Friary Meux|Friary, Holroyd and Healy]] in [[Guildford]], and a brief spell at [[Morrell's Brewing Company]] in [[Oxford]].<ref name="GuardianObit">{{cite web |last1=Protz |first1=Roger |title=Peter Austin obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/jan/09/peter-austin |website=The Guardian |publisher=Guardian Media Group |access-date=26 December 2023}}</ref> However the retirement was not to last and Austin was keen to pursue new ventures.<ref name="AustinObit">{{cite web |last1=Robertson |first1=Miranda |title=Tributes Paid to Founder of Ringwood Brewery |url=https://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/news/10922411.tributes-paid-to-founder-of-ringwood-brewery/ |website=Sailsbury Journal |date=11 January 2014 |publisher=Newsquest (Southern) Ltd |access-date=8 June 2023}}</ref><ref name="OxfordCompanion">{{cite web |title=The Oxford Companion to Beer Definition of Ringwood Brewery |url=https://beerandbrewing.com/dictionary/rmgrkOumWL/ |website=Craft Beer & Brewing |publisher=Unfiltered Media Group |access-date=8 June 2023}}</ref> An invitation two years later by [[Terry Jones]] of [[Monty Python]] fame and journalist; [[Richard Boston]] to create a micro brewery in an ex-cattle byre at Penrhos Court, [[Penrhos, Herefordshire]] reignited Austin's interest in brewing.<ref name="GuardianObit" />

In 1978, Peter Austin and Partners Limited<ref name="AnnualReport82">{{cite book |title=Director's Report for the Year Ended 30th April 1982 and Statement of Accounts at 30th April 1982 |date=1982 |publisher=Peter Austin and Partners Limited}}</ref> established Ringwood Brewery and started brewing in an old bakery at Minty's Yard, New Street, Ringwood in April of that year.<ref name="Quaffale">{{cite web |title=Ringwood Brewery Ltd |url=http://www.quaffale.org.uk/php/brewery/205 |website=The Directory of UK Brewers |access-date=8 June 2023}}</ref> Austin was an influence on Britain's [[craft beer|craft brewery]] rebirth in much the same way that [[Fritz Maytag]] of San Francisco's [[Anchor Brewing Company]] and Pierre Celis of Belgium's [[Hoegaarden Brewery]] were to their countries. However, Austin had a much more direct role in brewery development through his consulting business and equipment sales. Several American craft brewers use his Original Peter Austin Brick Kettle Brewing System<ref name="Pugsley" /> including [[D. L. Geary Brewing Company|Geary's Brewing]], [[Shipyard Brewing Company|Shipyard]] and Middle Ages Brewing Company. The equipment sales part of the business was separated from the main Ringwood Brewery company in 1982.<ref name="AnnualReport82" />

In 1980, Austin became the first chairman of the [[Society of Independent Brewers|Small Independent Brewers' Association]].<ref name="GuardianObit" />

Austin later brought in two business partners: David and Nigel Welsh. The business continued to expand with the purchase of a number of pubs<ref name="OxfordCompanion" /> and in 1986, having outgrown their existing brewery, the company moved to the site on Christchurch Road, historically previously part of Stephen Tunk's Brewery.<ref name="Quaffale" />

In 1988, the brewery was awarded 'Champion Beer of Britain' by the [[Campaign for Real Ale]] (CAMRA), for 'Old Thumper'.<ref name="AboutUs" /> Peter Austin sold his shares in Ringwood to David Welsh in 1990, becoming a brewing consultant.<ref name="Pugsley">{{cite web |title=Alan’s Mentor, Peter Austin |url=https://pugsleybrewing.com/peter-austin |website=Pugsley Brewing |access-date=26 December 2023}}</ref>

In 1989, an enquiry by the [[Monopolies and Mergers Commission]] into the brewing industry resulted in the [[Beer Orders]] requiring large brewers to restruct their number of tied pubs to 2,000 and to those tied pubs to stock at least one [[guest beer]]. This allowed tenants to buy an ale from a different brewer other than their landlord. This transformed Ringwood's output<ref name="AboutUs2008">{{cite web |title=About Ringwood Brewery |url=http://www.ringwoodbrewery.co.uk/ringwood-brewery.htm |website=Ringwood Brewery |access-date=5 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501213742/http://www.ringwoodbrewery.co.uk/ringwood-brewery.htm |archive-date=1 May 2008}}</ref> and between 1990 and 1994 production rose from 5,000 barrels per annum to 13,000 barrels per annum. The brewhouse was extended to accommodate this from 1994, with a further extension taking place in 1999 to allow more than one brew per day.<ref name="AboutUs" />

By the mid-1990s Ringwood had allowed Old Thumper to be brewed under license in the [[United States]]. Licensing was pursued in an effort to export their products to America, and was felt a more secure approach after two failed attempts in the mid and late 1980s. Alan Puglsey, a former Ringwood Brewery employee was the brewer for this through his brewery, Shipyard Brewery in [[Portland, Maine]].<ref name="AboutUs2008" />

Ringwood branched out from brewing in 1997 with the purchase of the Château de Fayolle and its vineyard near [[Saussignac]] in the [[Dordogne]] region of [[France]]. The vineyard produced several varieties of wine including [[Semillon]], [[Sauvignon Blanc]], [[Cabernet Sauvignon]], [[Merlot]] and [[Cabernet Franc]].<ref name="MorningAdvertiser2">{{cite web |title=Who Are They? The Hampshire Brewery Celebrated it Quarter Century |url=https://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/Article/2003/10/23/Who-are-they-The-Hampshire-brewer-celebrated-its-quarter-ce |website=The Morning Advertiser |publisher=William Reed Ltd. |access-date=30 December 2023}}</ref> Further diversification took place with the purchase of several local public houses,<ref name="2001Accounts">{{cite book |title=Abbreviated Accounts for the Year Ended 30 April 2001 |date=2001 |publisher=Ringwood Brewery Limited}}</ref> number 7 in total by 2007.

In 2007, Ringwood was purchased from David Welsh by [[Marston's plc]] for £19.2 million.<ref name="OxfordCompanion" /> Marston's stated that they would keep the brewery in operation and continue producing the full range of Ringwood beers.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/leisure/article2066535.ece |title=Marston's swallows Ringwood Brewery for £19m |last=Walsh |first=Dominic |date=12 July 2007 |newspaper=[[The Times]] |access-date=29 October 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612022211/http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/leisure/article2066535.ece |archive-date=12 June 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.thepublican.com/story.asp?sectioncode=7&storycode=56158&c=1 |title=CAMRA voices concern over Ringwood takeover |last=Withrington |first=Adam |date=12 July 2007 |magazine=[[The Publican]] |access-date=29 October 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927051242/http://www.thepublican.com/story.asp?sectioncode=7&storycode=56158&c=1 |archive-date=27 September 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6896262.stm |title=Marston's buys Old Thumper brewer |date=12 July 2007 |website=[[BBC News Online|BBC News]] |access-date=29 October 2018}}</ref>

Marston's sold Château de Fayolle and the vineyard in 2011.<ref name="2011Accounts">{{cite book |title=Fayolle Limited Annual Report 1 October 2011 |date=2011 |publisher=Fayolle Limited (previously Ringwood Brewery Limited)}}</ref>

In 2013, Ringwood underwent a full re-brand, and the ABV of Old Thumper was reduced from 5.6% to 5.1%.

In 2015, Ringwood Best Bitter was rebranded as Ringwood Razorback.<ref name="AboutUs" />

In May 2020, it was announced that subject to competition law and shareholder approval, Marston's would merge its brewing business, including Ringwood Brewery, with Carlsberg UK (the United Kingdom arm of [[Carlsberg Group]]), into a joint venture to be known as Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company (CMBC), valued at £780m. Marston's took a 40% stake in the joint venture and received c.£273m in cash.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Marston's and Carlsberg UK announce £780m merger - BBC News |work=BBC News |date=22 May 2020 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52770262 |access-date=2020-05-23 }}</ref>

In June 2023 the brewery and its brands were put up for sale by CMBC, who announced the closure of their logistics base in Ringwood as part of the same announcement.<ref name="EchoSale">{{cite web |last1=Goldman |first1=Andrew |title=Ringwood Brewery to be up for sale by Carlsberg Marston's |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/23575320.ringwood-brewery-sale-carlsberg-marstons/ |website=The Bournemouth Daily Echo |publisher=Newsquest (Southern) Limited |access-date=8 June 2023}}</ref>

On 4 December 2023, CMBC announced<ref name="CMBC">{{cite web |title=Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company announces proposal to close Ringwood Brewery |url=https://www.carlsbergmarstons.co.uk/newsroom/carlsberg-marston-s-brewing-company-announces-proposal-to-close-ringwood-brewery/ |website=Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company |access-date=26 December 2023 |date=4 December 2023}}</ref> they had failed to find a buyer for the brewery and Ringwood Brewery would close in January 2024. Production of the Ringwood Brewery beers was to be moved to other facilities owned by CMBC. Cask brewing of Razorback, Fortyniner and Boondoggle would be moved to The Park Brewery in [[Wolverhampton]] (Banks's), whilst cask brewing of Old Thumper cask brewing would go to The Marston's Brewery in [[Burton upon Trent]]. Razorback, Boondoggle and Fortyniner bottles were already brewed in Burton. The Ringwood CMBC logistic base had already been moved to CMBC's sites in [[Tiverton, Devon|Tiverton]] and [[Farnborough, Hampshire|Farnborough]].<ref name="EchoClose">{{cite web |last1=Elkins |first1=Jordan |title=Ringwood Brewery to close as Carlsberg Marston fail to sell |url=https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/23967337.ringwood-brewery-close-carlsberg-marston-fail-sell/ |website=Southern Daily Echo |publisher=Newsquest (Southern) Limited |access-date=4 December 2023}}</ref>

Controversy arose soon after however when [[Salisbury Journal|The Salisbury Journal]] reported on 6 December 2023 that a potential purchaser condemned CMBC's decision to close the site. CMBC stated they had been "unable to secure a credible offer which met our bidding threshold"; however, the threshold was not disclosed.<ref name="Journal2">{{cite web |last1=Elkins |first1=Jordan |title=Investor slams Carlsberg Marston for closing Ringwood Brewery |url=https://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/news/23968554.investor-slams-carlsberg-marston-closing-ringwood-brewery/ |website=The Salisbury Journal |publisher=Newsquest (Southern) Limited |access-date=26 December 2023}}</ref> A follow up article in the [[Morning Advertiser]] quoted local businessman, Anthony Swift, as saying that CMBC had not engaged or even responded to an indicative offer he had put forward together with a consortium during the sale process.<ref name="MorningAdvertiser1">{{cite web |last1=Bedington |first1=Ed |title=Ringwood sales process slammed as a 'sham' |url=https://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/Article/2023/12/18/Growing-anger-at-Ringwood-closure |website=The Morning Advertiser |publisher=William Reed Ltd |access-date=26 December 2023}}</ref>

The brewery shop closed on Christmas Eve 2023.

Marston's sold their stake in CMBC for £206 million in July 2024, in order to reduce debts and to allow it to concentrate on running its pub estate across the country. The sale gave Carlsberg full control of CMBC and ended Marston's 150 year heritage in brewing.<ref name="MarstonsCMBCSale">{{cite web |last1=Lawson |first1=Eleanor |title=Marston's sells stake in brewing firm for £206m |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3gev2y1yevo |website=BBC News |access-date=14 January 2025}}</ref> A review of brewing activities was undertaken as a result of the sale and in November 2024 CMBC announced it was to delist Boondoggle and Old Thumper as cask ales by the end of the year, although confirming that Boondoggle would remain available as a bottled beer.<ref name="Delisting1">{{cite web |last1=Dalton |first1=Jane |title=Carlsberg Marston’s accused of ‘wiping out UK brewing heritage’ after axing 11 beers |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/beers-pubs-uk-carlsberg-marston-b2656461.html |website=The Independent |access-date=14 January 2025}}</ref>

==Beers==

===Permanent ales===

* Razorback (previously Best Bitter) – 3.6% - Bitter - Launched 1978, rebranded 2015<ref name="Echo40Yrs">{{cite web |title=40 years of brewing up a storm in Ringwood |url=https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/16160872.photos-40-years-brewing-storm-ringwood/ |website=Southern Daily Echo |date=16 April 2018 |publisher=Newsquest (Southern) Ltd |access-date=8 June 2023}}</ref>
* Forty Niner – 4.9% - Golden Ale - Launched 1978<ref name="Echo40Yrs" /> 
* Old Thumper – 5.1% - Strong Ale, used to be as strong as 6%, then 5.8%, now 5.1% - Launched 1979<ref name="Echo40Yrs" 
/>
* Boondoggle – 4.2%  - Blonde Beer - Launched 1997<ref name="AboutUs" />
* Circadian – 4.5% - IPA - Launched 2016<ref name="AboutUs">{{cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.ringwoodbrewery.co.uk/about/ |website=Ringwood Brewery |access-date=8 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810101325/https://www.ringwoodbrewery.co.uk/about/ |archive-date=10 August 2022}}</ref>

===Seasonal ales===

* Filly Drift - 4.7% - Bitter
* Groundhog - 4.0%
* Huffkin - Autumn Ale - Launched 2002<ref name="AboutUs" />
* Lovey Warne - 4.2% - Golden Ale
* Mauler - 3.9% - Golden Ale
* Old Scrumper - 4% - Bitter
* Porker - 5.2% - Blonde Ale
* Red Boar - 3.9% - Red Ale
* Ring O The Bells - 5% - Dark Ale
* Scuttle Butt - 4.0% - Amber ale
* Showman's Tipple - 3.8% - Bitter
* Shy Giant - 4.5% - NE IPA
* Three Sheets - 4.6% - Red Ale
* Wild Boar - 4% - Bitter
* XXXX Porter - 4.7% - Porter - Launched 1980<ref name="Echo40Yrs" />
* Young Scrumper - 4.0% - Blonde ale

===Commemorative ales===

* Royal Match - A traditional strong ale brewed to a special gravity of 1052 - Special brew produced in 1981 to commemorate the [[Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer]].
* True Glory - 4.5% - Amber Ale - Special brew first produced in 1995 to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of [[VE Day]].<ref name="AboutUs" />
* Twenty One Not Out - Special brew produced in 1999 to commemorate the twenty first anniversary of the brewery.<ref name="AboutUs" />
* Bold Forester - Special brew produced in 2003 to commemorate the twenty fifth anniversary of the brewery.<ref name="AboutUs" /> 
* Seventy Eight - 4.2% - Spring Ale - Special brew produced in 2008 to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the brewery. Brewed again in 2018 to commemorate the fortieth anniversary of the brewery.<ref name="Echo40Yrs" />

==Pubs==
All pubs were transferred to Marston's after the brewery was purchased in 2007.

* Drovers Inn, [[Gussage All Saints]] - Purchased January 2000<ref name="WebsitePubsDec2000" />
* Porterhouse, Poole Road, [[Westbourne, Dorset|Westbourne]]<ref name="WebsitePubsDec2000" />
* The Angel, Market Street, Poole - Purchased 2001<ref name="2001Accounts" />
* The Boot, High West Street, [[Weymouth, Dorset|Weymouth]] - Purchased 1998<ref name="WebsitePubsDec2000" />
* The Cartwheel, [[Whitsbury]]<ref name="WebsitePubsDec2004">{{cite web |title=The Pubs |url=http://www.ringwoodbrewery.co.uk/Pubs.htm |website=Ringwod Brewery |access-date=2 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040209083247/http://www.ringwoodbrewery.co.uk/Pubs.htm |archive-date=9 February 2004}}</ref>
* The Crown, [[Winterborne Stickland]]<ref name="WebsitePubsDec2003">{{cite web |title=The Pubs |url=http://www.ringwoodbrewery.co.uk/Pubs.htm |website=Ringwod Brewery |access-date=2 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030415231805/http://www.ringwoodbrewery.co.uk/Pubs.htm |archive-date=15 April 2003}}</ref>
* The Inn on the Furlong, Meeting House Lane, Ringwood - Flagship<ref name="WebsitePubsDec2000">{{cite web |title=The Pubs |url=http://www.ringwoodbrewery.co.uk/Pubs.htm |website=Ringwod Brewery |access-date=2 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001202011300/http://www.ringwoodbrewery.co.uk/Pubs.htm |archive-date=2 December 2000}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.ringwoodbrewery.co.uk/ Ringwood Brewery website]

[[Category:Breweries in England]]
[[Category:Companies based in Hampshire]]
[[Category:Ringwood, Hampshire]]