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11th June 2018

Way to go! Award-winning microbrewery brews up funding for South Downs National Park Trust

Lesley Foulkes, co-founder of Langham Brewery and Andy Gattiker, South Downs Way manager, toast the launch of South Downs Best Bitter

Langham Brewery has released the first bottles of its classic South Downs Best Bitter to support work in the South Downs National Park, including a campaign to raise funds for critical repairs on the South Downs Way national trail.

Five pence from every bottle sold will go to the South Downs National Park Trust’s ‘Mend our Way’ campaign to fix broken sections of the South Downs Way.

The independent craft microbrewery, which produces cask conditioned real ales and keg beers including Halfway to Heaven, Hip Hop and Arapaho, is based within the National Park on the Cowdray Estate, near Petworth, West Sussex. Langham became the first corporate partner of the South Downs National Park Trust, which launched last year.

Lesley Foulkes, the brewery’s co-founder said: “We’re thrilled with our South Downs Best Bitter which features a striking image inspired by the beautiful South Downs on its label. We are aiming to raise a significant amount over the next couple of years towards projects in the National Park, including vital restoration of sections of the South Downs Way.”

She added: “We have welcomed the opportunity to collaborate with the trust to raise awareness of the fabulous countryside that surrounds us, and to lead the way in raising funds to conserve the much-loved South Downs Way for future generations.”

Walk this way: new South Downs information point

The steam heated brewery is also creating a South Downs National Park Information Point at the brewery and has signed up to the National Park Authority’s new Cyclists and Walkers Initiative.

Foulkes said: “The information point will be a place where weary cyclists, walkers and people just passing by can drop in and enjoy refreshments in convivial surroundings and discover the delights and possibilities of the National Park, the South Downs Way and surrounding countryside.”

Andy Gattiker, who manages the South Downs Way, said: “Langham Brewery are award-winning local producers, based right in the heart of the National Park – it would be hard to find a more a natural partner to the new charity. The new beer looks and tastes great and we are really grateful for their support of the ‘Mend Our Way’ appeal and other future work.

“Fifteen thousand pairs of boots, 10,000 bicycle tyres and 800 hooves travel the length of the trail each year, and millions more will enjoy a section of it, causing a lot of wear and tear! Langham Brewery’s donations will help us with significant projects on more remote sections of the path which, are too expensive to tackle using existing funds.”

Award-winning range extended with new keg beers

The launch of South Downs Best Bitter comes hot on the heels of Langham Brewery’s Triple XXX beer taking the silver award in the ‘Cask Champion Standard Mild and Brown Ales’ category at the SIBA National Independent Beer Awards 2018, adding another win to its already impressive trophy cabinet.

Now the brewery is extending beyond cask and bottled ales with the launch of six new craft keg beers including three unfiltered from its cask range, which provides real ale with all the advantages of keg, and three new brews.

The three new keg beers available this summer are – Lodsteiner, an authentic German Pils; O’Reallys an authentic Irish stout and a powerfully hopped fruity New England IPA called Rocket Juice.

Beer alchemist and co-founder James Berrow said: “Our passion is to produce innovative, distinctive and flavoursome real ales using the finest quality ingredients and traditional craft skills. As we are completely independent we are not constrained in our recipes. The beer always comes first.”

He adds: “We pride ourselves on our modern brews with a traditional twist and our new craft keg beers are no exception. We have invested in a state of the art kegging plant and taken our time to ensure we are completely satisfied with our new beers. You can’t hurry a good brew!”.

Langham Brewery was one of the first four breweries in England to gain a Cask Marque and SALSA plus Beer accreditation for its quality brewing processes and performance and still secondary cask conditions its ale.

Pic caption: Way to go!: Lesley Foulkes, co-founder of Langham Brewery and Andy Gattiker, South Downs Way manager, toast the launch of South Downs Best Bitter

Pic credit: Ciani Foulkes

Notes to editors:

     About Langham Brewery

  • South Downs Best Bitter (4.5% ABV) is available in 500ml bottles. It is a tawny-coloured classic best bitter with well-balanced malt flavours, finished with a hint of blackcurrant and a slightly spicy, sweet aroma.
  • The new bottled beer is available direct from the brewery for pubs and shops to stock. For more information call 01798 860861 or email office@langhambrewery.co.uk
  • Langham’s fundraising for the South Downs National Park is just one example of the brewery’s support for its local community. Other initiatives include Live@Langhams beer and music festivals hosted at the brewery in April, August and November in aid of local good causes and its ‘Bonkers for Conkers’ Championship in October, which is now in its 11th year and raises money for a local children’s hospice.
  • Langham Brewery (www.langhambrewery.co.uk) is located at an old 18th century granary barn on the Cowdray Park Estate in Lodsworth, between the West Sussex towns of Midhurst and Petworth in the South Downs National Park. The brewery produces 17 beers annually – seven permanent ales and 10 limited editions, plus three unfiltered keg beers. The brewery has secured more than 40 awards for its traditional cask conditioned real ales.
  • As the brewery secondary cask conditions its ales all can be made available in vegan friendly and fined versions. The brewery’s first vegan friendly beer was Saison (3.9% ABV).
  • Langham Brewery was established in 2005 by friends James Berrow and Steve Mansley (now retired). They had home brewed real ale in James’ garage to great acclaim for over 25 years and in 2005 decided it was time to progress to commercial brewing. They were joined in the venture by Lesley Foulkes, James’ partner whose business background completed the skill set.
  • Follow the brewery on Facebook and Twitter- @LanghamBrewery and Instagram – @langhambrewery

           About the South Downs National Park Trust

  • The South Downs National Park Trust is an independent charity launched in October 2017 which is being supported by South Downs National Park Authority staff for its first three years – ensuring that funds raised can be focused on work in the National Park. For more information on the trust visit www.southdownstrust.org.ukThrough its ‘Mend our Way’ (#MendourWay) appeal the South Downs National Park Trust (@SouthDownsTrust) aims to raise £120,000 to carry out critical improvements on the South Downs Way. This is part of the national “Make a Million” campaign, run by the British Mountaineering Council, which seeks to raise £1,000,000 for some of the UK’s most treasured trails.          
  • About the South Downs National Park and the South Downs Way
  • The South Downs National Park is England’s newest national park, which celebrated its 8th birthday on 31 March 2018. The South Downs Way is the only National Trail to sit entirely within a national park – stretching all the way from Winchester, England’s ancient capital city, to the seaside resort of Eastbourne in East Sussex.
  • More than 20,000 walkers, cyclists and riders enjoy the 160km South Downs Way National Trail every year.

Issued on behalf of Langham Brewery by Jo Bruce Communications

For further information contact Jo Bruce jbcomms@outlook.com or 07766 203628