New Forest beer-maker Downton Brewery has launched into a new decade of brewing with an exciting new brand.
The award-winning Wiltshire business supplies beer to pubs throughout southern England and also operates at festivals and online.
"The old Downton Brewery brand has served us very well over the past 15 years but we wanted something fresh and modern to take us through the next 15," said Martin Strawbridge, owner of Downton Brewery.
"The Chimera (part lion, goat and snake) is central to our old brand and part of our DNA so we wanted to reflect that and the designers at Redwing have done an incredible job."
Canned beer: coming soon
The new Downton Brewery brand is already visible on beer pump clips and bottles with canned beer set to hit shelves this year.
"The designs for our new beer cans are being worked up and look fantastic. I'm confident they'll appeal to our existing fanbase and also to new drinkers. It's a brave new world!” added Strawbridge.
The rebrand has been carried out by Redwing, a full-service agency that develops brands and designs, and develops websites, apps and eCommerce platforms.
"As design projects go, this one has been hugely enjoyable and something that a number of people in the office wanted to work on," said Adrian Hart, MD at Redwing.
"We have worked in the drinks industry for a while now with national supplier Nectar, but working with an artisan producer like Downton has been fascinating and thoroughly enjoyable.
"Aside from the obvious need to incorporate the Chimera, Martin gave us a lot of creative freedom and the drawings and designs came together nicely with a few iterations and tweaks. We look forward to celebrating the launch over a pint.”
‘Firsty Friday’
Strawbridge, who holds a degree in Chemistry but swapped test tubes for mash tuns 15 years ago, took over the running of the brewery in 2003. Since then, he has added a third fermenter and grown the long list of pubs selling Downton beers in a market climate that favours larger breweries.
The business also sells beer gift packs online and services festivals, events and private functions, with a converted Land Rover bar proving a huge success for outdoor events.
Most recently, in 2018, the brewery started opening its doors to hundreds of customers for 'Firsty Friday' giving locals and visitors the chance to enjoy beer and pizza on Friday evenings at the brewery.
"Firsty Friday has proved a massive hit with the punters,” said Strawbridge. “They love coming into the brewery. I think there's something authentic about enjoying a pint in the place where it's been brewed. We've seen the same with the rise of micro-breweries and we're doing the same kind of thing, without so many polished pipes!"
For more information
Downton Brewery: Martin Strawbridge - Sales@downtonbrewery.com
Redwing: Jessie Agnew - jessie.a@red-wing.com