Celebrating South Downs beer
June 5, 2019
Rolling hills. Ancient woodland. Jaw-dropping sea cliffs. Beer.
If you were to walk into almost any pub in the South East of England you’re bound to see a beer brewed in the South Downs on tap.
The South Downs National Park is home to a number of award-winning breweries, producing world-class beer, using chalk-filtered water straight from the South Downs aquifer.
For many people, a walk in the South Downs isn’t complete without a stop in a rural pub, quenching their thirst with something sublime brewed just a few miles away.
As part of National Beer Day, we’ve put together a list of some of our favourite breweries. How many have you had a chance to enjoy?
Langham Brewery
Langhams, based in Lodsworth, West Sussex, are an independent brewery producing a variety of cask-conditioned real ale. Find out more about their history and their award-winning beers by watching the video below:
Their beer can be found in a number of stores and pubs in the South Downs or you can buy directly from them online or in person. They also offer pre-booked brewery tours if you want to get a glimpse into how your favourite beer is made.
Find out more, including tasting notes for each of their beers, on their website – www.langhambrewery.co.uk
Long Man Brewery
Long Man Brewery have a deep connection the South Downs, with their name taking inspiration from the nearby Long Man of Wilmington. The brewery is based in Litlington, East Sussex and produces a wide variety of permanent, small batch and seasonal ales.
You can find a map of their stockists and an online store for beer and merchandise on their website – www.longmanbrewery.com
Bedlam Brewery
Bedlam are based just outside the National Park, in Albourne, West Sussex. They produce a number of ales and a pilsner lager.
Bedlam describe themselves as being passionate about the environment. All of the energy they use brewing comes from solar panels, they plant and harvest their own hops, and supply local farmers with their spent grain and hops for free.
Visit their website for more information, your local stockists, to arrange a tour or browse their online shop – www.bedlambrewery.co.uk
Burning Sky Brewery
Burning Sky are based in the village of Firle, East Sussex, just a few miles away from Glynde and the world renowned Glyndebourne opera house.
Burning Sky beers can be found in pubs across the National Park with core staples like Aurora and Arise coming in cask and keg.
Lookout for their bottle-conditioned seasonal saisons. These often sell-out quickly but worth getting a few, even if it’s just to admire the unique bottle art.
Find out more on their website – www.burningskybeer.com
Gun Brewery
Although based outside of the National Park, Gun are incredibly popular with a number of pubs within the South Downs serving their beer.
With a commitment to keep the brewing process as simple and organic as possible, Gun produce a number of vegan-friendly beers using water pumped from their own underground spring.
If given the chance, be sure to try the Scaramanga, an extra pale ale, and the Parabellum, a ‘dark and delicious’ milk stout.
Learn more about Gun and their brewing process – www.gunbrewery.co.uk
Downlands Brewery
With a name like Downlands, you would expect a brewery to pay homage to the landscape around them and they certainly do.
Brewing with good ingredients and a sense of humour to match, Downlands produce popular local staples such as Devil’s Dyke, a smooth chocolate porter, and Bramber, an American pale ale, named after the picturesque village neighbouring Steyning.
Visit their website to view their full range of beer – www.downlandsbrewery.com
Harvey’s Brewery
Based in Lewes and the oldest independent Brewery in Sussex, Harvey’s are renowned throughout the South East for their range of traditional cask ales.
Harvey’s have 48 pubs in the South East of England, although their ales are available in many more in the area.
Visit their website to find your local Harvey’s pub, buy ale online, or see upcoming events – www.harveys.org.uk