Breweries

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.

Try your hand at making craft beer at Langham Brewery in Lodsworth and take a tour of their 10 barrel steam powered brewery.

If you like a little heritage with your beer then Longman Brewery is ideal. The malt house existed on the farm during the mid-19th century and an inventory suggests it dates as far back as 1538. Longman Brewery use locally sourced ingredients and the spring barley used in the beers is grown on the farm, even their workforce is from within the Cuckmere Valley.

At Gilbert White’s House & Gardens, the original 1765 brewhouse was reopened by the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire in 2021, and craft beer is brewed onsite and in summer uses the hops grown in the garden. The brewing and naming of each beer is inspired by the history and landscape connected to the museum.

The beer is sold in the café and shop, alongside the branded gin. There are a number of beer tasting events throughout the year. Couples holding their weddings at Gilbert White’s House are also given the opportunity to brew their own beer!

The public can try the Gilbert White range of beer at the Jubilee Tap Room, opposite the museum. Brewing was a part of White’s life and something in which he took pleasure in. By opening the Tap Room visitors can now fully experience one of White’s past times and step back into history by tasting brews made with his recipes. The Jubilee Tap is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 5.30pm-9pm.

Or look out for beers from Downlands, who pay homage to the landscape around them by producing 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.