- A UK-first collaboration featuring locally grown hops and barley from Surrey and Berkshire
- New beer underscores the breweries’ commitment to sustainability and innovative brewing
Hogs Back Brewery and Renegade Brewery have teamed up to create a unique new beer, Home Grown Pale Ale. Available in 160 Waitrose stores across the UK starting 30 March 2025, this collaboration is believed to be the first of its kind in the UK, combining barley grown by one brewery, with hops cultivated by the other, to craft a truly Home Grown brew.
The launch highlights the increasing demand for sustainable, locally sourced products and reflects both breweries’ commitment to reducing their environmental impact. This collaboration marks a milestone in the ‘farm brewing’ movement, where brewers cultivate their own ingredients, fostering a deeper connection to the land and resulting in beers with distinctive quality and flavour.
Renegade Brewery has sourced barley from the expansive 10,000-acre Yattendon Estate in Berkshire, while Hogs Back Brewery has been growing its own hops in Surrey for over a decade. By joining forces, the two breweries are creating a sustainable, artisanal beer that showcases the exceptional local ingredients from neighbouring regions.
Miles Chesterman, Managing Director of Hogs Back Brewery, said: “We are incredibly proud of Home Grown Pale Ale, a beer that truly embodies the quality and craftsmanship we strive for at Hogs Back Brewery. By growing our own hops and collaborating with Renegade Brewery, who grow their own barley, we’ve created a beer that not only tastes exceptional but also has a minimal environmental impact. Partnering with Renegade and Waitrose has been a fantastic journey, and we are excited to bring this beautiful, artisanal product to craft beer lovers across the UK.”
Martin Kelly, Managing Director of Renegade Brewery, said “as consumers increasingly prioritise sustainability, it made perfect sense to partner with the local Hogs Back Brewery and Waitrose to create Home Grown. We’re proud to champion British ingredients, and Home Grown perfectly showcases the incredible produce available right here in the UK. By reducing food miles, we not only support British farming but also contribute to a more sustainable future.'”
Jourdan Gabbini, Beer and Cider Buyer at Waitrose comments, “We are delighted to be exclusively launching Hogs Back and Renegade Breweries’ ‘Home Grown’ collaboration ale, continuing to demonstrate our passion in supporting independently owned British brewers. We know our customers care about where their food comes from, and Hogs Back Brewery’s and Renegade Brewery’s efforts to grow hops and barley sustainably aligns with our own ambitions to source and create food that is farmed in harmony with nature.”
Home Grown Pale Ale is a smooth, easy-drinking showstopper that strikes the perfect balance between rich Berkshire barley and vibrant citrus notes of orange peel and grapefruit from Surrey-grown hops. Pale golden in colour, it’s brewed with 100% home-grown Pale malt from Yattendon Estate and Cascade and Fuggles hops from Hogs Back in Surrey. This unique collaboration combines the best of local ingredients for a brew that’s as flavourful as it is sustainable.
Home Grown is a 4.5% gluten free Pale Ale and will be available in 500ml bottles with a RRP of £2.50.
ENDS
Contact – Jill Adams, Director of Marketing, Hogs Back Brewery
07879 334675
About Hogs Back Brewery:
Hogs Back Brewery was founded in 1992 in Tongham, Surrey. Its flagship brand, Tongham TEA (Traditional English Ale), is a leading regional ale in the south-east.
Committed to sustainability, Hogs Back aims to eliminate single-use plastic, introducing refillable glass Snorters and Snifters, removing over 20,000 PETs, and earning Plastic Free Champion status from Surfers Against Sewage.
In 2014 Hogs Back planted a hop garden, moving it to a larger site in 2019. It celebrated its 10th Hop Harvest in September, harvesting Fuggles, English Cascade, and Farnham White Bine hops.
In 2024, it won the Le May Cup for its White Bine hop and received Gold and Silver awards for its Fuggles and English Cascade hops, respectively.
The brewery’s range includes award-winning draught, bottled, and canned beers, showcasing its blend of brewing expertise and innovation. Notable awards include:
- Little Swine 0.5%: Gold medals in the European Beer Challenge 2024 and SIBA National Independent Beer Awards 2024.
- A over T (Aromas over Tongham) 9% ABV: CAMRA’s Champion Bottled Beer of Britain 2020.
- Hogstar lager: Gold medal in the World Beer Awards 2017.
- Hazy Hog: Bronze medal in the International Cider Challenge 2019.
In January 2025, Miles Chesterman became Managing Director, with owner Rupert Thompson now serving as Executive Chairman.
For more information, visit www.hogsback.co.uk
Contact – Clare Candy, Marketing Manager, Renegade Brewery
clare.candy@renegadebrewery.co.uk
01635767090
About Renegade Brewery:
Renegade Brewery creates beers with stories and imagination, inspired by their state-of-the-art brewery, unique countryside location and driven by fresh perspective and future thinking. From Yattendon barley to recycled materials, they’re brewing a better planet with no compromise on flavour, ever.
Contact – Jill Adams, Director of Marketing, Hogs Back Brewery
07879 334675
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