Photo: The Shop / Photo Hog's Back Brewery

For centuries the area around Farnham, Surrey led the brewing of British beer and produced the finest hops in all the land. By the 1700s hop growing together with the malting of barley had become a major local industry that greatly increased the prosperity of the town.

Evidence of this once great industry can be seen today in the remnants of old kilns, and malthouses dotted around the area.  The Kiln in Badshot Lea, Hewett’s Kilns in Runfold is now The Packhouse Antiques centre. The Farnham Maltings are now an arts and community centre where the annual Farnham Beer festival is held in late April.

In 1992 the opening of a small independent, The Hog’s Back Brewery in Tongham near Farnham brought beer brewing back to the region, and with award winning products like Traditional English Ale (T.E.A.) it has definately made a name for itself declaring itself here to stay.

“The brewery is now producing in excess of 140 barrels per week of beer with all sorts of names, somehow the names reflect the enthusiasm of the proprietors. Among the many there are Santa’s Wobble, Still Wobbling, Wobble in a Bottle, Rip Snorter.”

The brewery was established in some 16th century farm buildings located in the village of Tongham, Surrey – between Farnham & Guildford just off the A31 ‘Hogs Back’ road – and is open to the public for Brewery Tours on Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday Evenings, and during the day on Saturdays and Sundays. Tours include generous sampling & a souvenir glass but must be booked and paid for in advance due to their popularity.

Do you have a similarly fantastic product produced nearby?

Read about how Make Travel Fair Writer Nick Weston made his own homebrew for £30 »