Summerskills Brewery

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Summerskills Ad1983.jpg

Summerskills Brewery, The Manor, Ringmore, Kingsbridge, Devon

Brewing commenced March 1983 by Adam Summerskill at the owner's vineyard near Bigbury Bay. Ceased 1985 when the brewery was moved to Plymstock.


Summerskills Brewery, Unit 15 Broxton Drive, Pomphlett Farm Industrial Estate, Plymstock, Plymouth, Devon PL9 7BG

The new brewery opened at Plymstock in 1985. The 14-barrel kit included items from Penrhos and Regent Brewery (Plymouth). In 1985, they owned the White Lion, Stone (ex Halls, 1984) and the London Inn, Ivybridge.

Closed by 1989 but recommenced 1990 under new ownership.


Summerskills Brewery at Plymouth was set up by Carl Beeson and Rick Wilson in 1987 and their range of beers stand out for their distinctive character and reflect their sense of humour. One of its most successful beers is Indiana's Bones which was launched in 1983 as a winter warmer but due to its popularity was moved into all-year round production.

Carl and Rick enjoyed national publicity when they were chosen as finalists in the BBC Radio Times Enterprise Awards for the best new business set up in 1994. That success not only gave the partners 40 minutes of publicity on Radio 4 but a certificate from Michael Heseltine in his then role as President of the Board of Trade. They are extremely proud of their beers and the prizes they have earned at shows and festivals are proudly displayed on the brewery walls. But their biggest achievement was when Carl and Rick's peers voted their beer best in the west at the Maltings Beer Festival, organised by the Society of Independent Brewers, the old SIBA. The festival is the biggest in the region and Summerskill's Best Bitter won the supreme championship in 1993. At the time Carl said, “If you think of it, your brewing colleagues are actually admitting that your beer is better than theirs by naming it the champion. It is a great honour and we are very proud of our award.”

The brewery, now Plymouth's oldest independent, was started in 1983 by Adam Summerskill with a two-and-a-half barrel plant at his vineyard at St Anne's Chapel near Bigbury-on-Sea. Mr Summerskill moved the brewery to its present position on the Pomphlett Farm industrial estate in 1985, at the same time expanding to a 10 barrel plant with equipment once owned by Terry Jones of Monty Python fame. Sadly the business ceased trading in April 1988 and 18 months later was revived by ex-Royal Navy officer Carl and hotelier and chef Rick. They bought the business and immediately revamped Bigbury Best Bitter to Summerskill Best Bitter, a 4.3 per cent beer which proved popular with the locals. The following year the partners launched Whistle Belly Vengeance (4.7% abv), Ninjabeer (5% abv) and by 1993 had added Indiana’s Bones (5.6% abv). The brewery also produced Tamar (4.3% abv), Menacing Dennis (4.5% abv) and Turkey’s Delight (5.1% abv).

Under the banner of the Wessex Craft Brewers Co-op, they are looking forward to the opportunity to bottle some of their brews.