What Exmoor Ales does

Exmoor Ales is an independent UK craft brewery operating under the corporate entity Exmoor Drinks Ltd, with brewing heritage in Wiveliscombe, Somerset dating to 1979. The company produces a portfolio of cask-conditioned ales built around a six-strong core range — Exmoor Ale (3.8%), Exmoor Gold (4.5%, Britain's original Golden Ale), Exmoor Stag (4.8%), Exmoor Beast (6.6% dark porter), Exmoor Fox (4.2%) and Wicked Wolf (4.2%) — supplemented by a six-beer seasonal rotation, a small-batch Pathfinder range for limited editions, Exmoor Cider 4.8%, and a spirits line (Wicked Wolf Gin, plus third-party Devon Rum Co.). Production is delivered through a hybrid model: core ales are contract-brewed by Hogs Back Brewery at its Surrey site under a 2025 strategic collaboration, while the New Exmoor Brewery in Wiveliscombe (opened August 2025 on the former Cotleigh Brewery site) handles NPD, specials and limited editions.

Name

Exmoor Ales

Legal name

Exmoor Drinks Ltd

Website

https://exmoorales.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Brewing

NAICS

Breweries (31212), Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers (42481), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (445320), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (44532), Breweries (312120)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082)

akta.pro primary industry

Distilleries (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cideries & Meadery Tasting Rooms (THAFALAI), Mixed Alcohol Specialty Retail (Beer/Wine/Spirits Combined) (CRANABAH), Spirits Distilling & Brands (CRADAIAC), Spirits Distillery Tours & Tastings (Whiskey, Rum, Gin, Vodka) (THAJAGAF), Alcoholic Beverage Tours & On-site Experiences (Brewery/Winery/Distillery) (THAFALAK), Wine Shops (Off-Premise) (CRANAAAB), Craft Beer Retail & Bottle Shops (Off-Premise) (CRANAAAC), Spirits Retail & Whiskey Shops (Off-Premise) (CRANAAAD), Packaging & Production Breweries (Limited/No On-site Service) (THAFALAB)

Keywords

• Craft beer brewing
• Cask conditioned ales
• Independent brewery
• Bottled real ale
• Brewery retail sales

Headquarters

HQ city

Wiveliscombe

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Bottled and draught ale sales (DTC): Direct online and on-site retail of bottled ales (Exmoor Ale, Gold, Stag, Beast, Fox), mixed cases, gift packs, and polypin/mini-cask draught formats at fixed unit prices including VAT. Per-order revenue; no subscription.
2. Cider and spirits sales: Sales of Exmoor Cider (4.8%) in bottles and kegs, plus third-party spirits (Wicked Wolf Gin, Devon Rum Co. Premium Spiced Rum) and other drinks/accessories, generating per-unit transactional revenue.
3. On-trade cask ale sales to publicans: B2B sales of cask ales to pubs and restaurants via the Publican Portal and account-based ordering; recurring reorder revenue from on-trade accounts predominantly in the South West UK.
4. Distribution of own and partner brands: Exmoor Drinks distributes Exmoor Ales brands and Hogs Back Brewery's flagship Tongham TEA into pubs/bars across the South West, generating distribution/wholesale margin on partner brands alongside own-brand sales.
5. Branded merchandise and accessories: Sales of branded merchandise including glassware, bar runners, bottle openers, clothing, and gift vouchers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Exmoor Ales is an independent Somerset brewery that produces and sells a portfolio of cask-conditioned ales, bottled beers, cider, and spirits under Exmoor Drinks Ltd. The range centres on a six-strong year-round core (3.8%–6.6% ABV), a rotating six-beer seasonal lineup, a small-batch Pathfinder limited-edition range, Exmoor Cider, and Wicked Wolf Gin, sold through an on-site brewery shop, online webshop, publican trade portal, and via wholesale partner Hogs Back Brewery.

Product overview

Exmoor Ales is a single-business brewery (trading as Exmoor Brewery under Exmoor Drinks Ltd) rather than a multi-product platform: its portfolio is built around three parallel ale ranges plus cider, spirits, draught, merchandise, and on-site retail/hospitality, all sharing the same Exmoor branding, distribution (via Hogs Back Brewery partnership for off-trade and wider regions), and Wiveliscombe production base. The Core Range of year-round cask and bottled ales comprises Exmoor Ale (3.8% Classic Bitter), Exmoor Gold (4.5% Golden Ale), Exmoor Stag (4.8% Strong Bitter), Exmoor Beast (6.6% Dark Porter), Exmoor Fox (4.2% Deep Gold), and Wicked Wolf (4.2% Golden Ale). This is complemented by a six-beer Seasonal range rotating through the year (Exmoor Antler, Hound Dog, Hart, Silver Stallion, Wildcat, Exmas), the small-batch Pathfinder range and limited-edition brews such as the Tawny Ale charity brew, Exmoor Cider 4.8%, a spirits line (Wicked Wolf Gin, Devon Rum Co. Premium Spiced Rum), a 10 or 20 Litre Draught Ale Polypin service for home dispensing, mixed cases and gift packs, branded accessories (bottle opener, bar runner), the on-site Brewery Shop and Tap Room, and a Publican Portal for trade customers ordering cask ales.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Wicked Wolf: Golden ale (4.2%) and gin (70cl) brand marketed under the Exmoor Drinks Ltd umbrella.
• Exmoor Cider

Products and services

• Exmoor Ale 3.8% (Classic Bitter) A 3.8% Classic Bitter forming the entry point of the Exmoor core range; available on cask in pubs throughout the UK, in 500ml bottles in 8/16/24-pack cases, and as a draught polypin option for home consumption.
• Exmoor Gold 4.5% (Golden Ale) A 4.5% Golden Ale described as the original and first Golden Ale in Britain; balanced subtle caramel maltiness with fresh citrus hop fruitiness; sold in 8/16/24 x 500ml bottle cases and polypin draught format.
• Exmoor Stag 4.8% (Strong Bitter) A 4.8% Strong Bitter served year-round in pubs and sold in 500ml bottle cases of 8, 16, or 24, plus polypin draught format for home drinking.
• Exmoor Beast 6.6% (Dark Porter) A 6.6% Dark Porter, one of the brewery's most popular bottled beers and a flagship 'special' produced at the New Exmoor Brewery as part of its NPD focus.
• Exmoor Fox 4.2% (Deep Gold) A 4.2% Deep Gold ale in the Exmoor core range; served year-round as part of the classic lineup in pubs.
• Wicked Wolf 4.2% (Golden Ale) A 4.2% Golden Ale completing the six-strong core range; served year-round in pubs and complements the separate Wicked Wolf Gin spirit brand.
• Exmoor Antler 4.0% (Classic Bitter, seasonal) A 4.0% Classic Bitter scheduled for the January–February seasonal window.
• Hound Dog 4.0% (Golden Ale, seasonal) A 4.0% Golden Ale scheduled for the March–April seasonal window.
• Hart 4.0% (Pale Ale, seasonal)

Quantifiable outcome

• Saved 10 local jobs through Hogs Back collaboration and opening of New Exmoor Brewery
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship / core partnership, minor / awareness-building, operational supplier, operational heritage, minor / sku extension and minor / brand extension.

• Hogs Back Breweryflagship / core partnershipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Strategic collaboration: Exmoor ceased brewing at its Golden Hill site in May (per release) and partnered with Hogs Back Brewery, which now brews Exmoor's main ales (Exmoor Gold, Exmoor Ale, Silver Stallion) at its Surrey site. Hogs Back handles distribution into all off-trade customers and beyond the South West, and is investing to introduce Exmoor beers to a broader audience. Exmoor Drinks distributes Exmoor brands and Hogs Back's flagship Tongham TEA in the South West. The collaboration saved 10 local jobs and is enabling the New Exmoor Brewery to focus on NPD and limited editions.
• All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group and Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA)minor / awareness-buildingGTM or Marketing PartnerExmoor Gold was made available in the House of Commons Strangers' Bar under a scheme run jointly by the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group and the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA). Local MP Rachel Gilmour selected Exmoor Gold as the week's guest ale, giving Exmoor Brewery high-profile exposure to UK parliamentarians.
• Oldfields Farm, Tenbury Wellsoperational supplierImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCider-making partnership: Exmoor Cider is fresh-pressed at Oldfields Farm in Tenbury Wells using Harry Masters Jersey, Yarlington and Dabinett apples. Oldfields Farm provides the pressing/processing capability that Exmoor relies on for its Exmoor Cider 4.8% product.
• Cotleigh Brewery (former Wiveliscombe site)operational heritageStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew Exmoor Brewery is located on the site of the former Cotleigh Brewery in Wiveliscombe; brewing at the site is led by former Cotleigh head brewer Shaun Vockins, bringing Cotleigh brewing heritage and personnel into the Exmoor operation.
• Devon Rum Co.minor / sku extensionChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDevon Rum Co. Premium Spiced Rum 70cl is retailed via the Exmoor Ales webshop and brewery shop as an additional spirit SKU alongside Exmoor's own ales and cider.
• Wicked Wolf Gin (Exmoor brand)minor / brand extensionOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerWicked Wolf Gin 70cl is part of the Wicked Wolf Gin range retailed by Exmoor Drinks across its webshop with multi-bottle purchase discounts; the Wicked Wolf name is also used for a core Golden Ale (4.2%) in the Exmoor Core range, indicating a brand-licensing/extension arrangement.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hogs Back Brewery: Surrey-based regional brewery that now contract-brews Exmoor's core ales and distributes them off-trade. Same UK independent cask ale model, overlapping on-trade accounts, and a direct strategic partnership with Exmoor Drinks.
• Cotleigh Brewery: Former Wiveliscombe neighbour whose site and head brewer (Shaun Vockins) have been absorbed into the New Exmoor Brewery. Direct heritage overlap and a Somerset-based cask ale portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• Timothy Taylor's: Long-established Yorkshire independent brewery and the previous employer of Exmoor's incoming MD Simon French. Comparable cask-conditioned ale heritage, multi-channel pub distribution, and field-sales-led GTM.
• St Austell Brewery: South West regional brewer with a tied pub estate and on-trade wholesale. Closest geographic incumbent to Exmoor's South West heartland and a competing cask ale range to the same publican base.
• Adnams Southwold: Heritage UK independent brewer, distiller and retailer with its own brewery shop, webshop and multi-format product range (ales, spirits, gifts). Direct analogue to Exmoor's diversified craft model at larger scale.
• Shepherd Neame: Britain's oldest brewer with a cask ale core, tied pub estate, branded on-site shops, and event/hospitality venues. Comparable multi-channel craft heritage model with national distribution.
• Wadworth Brewery: Independent family brewer in Wiltshire with a cask ale core, pub estate and branded hospitality. Regional South-of-England comparable with overlapping publican and on-trade customer base.
• Badger Brewery (Hall & Woodhouse): Dorset-based independent brewer with cask ales, tied pubs and a brewery shop. South West regional incumbent overlapping Exmoor's on-trade footprint and publican base.

Regional players

• Theakston Brewery: Yorkshire heritage brewer with classic British ales, a brewery visitor experience, and traditional cask-led distribution. Useful comparable for heritage cask ale, tap-room, and gift-pack monetisation.

Emerging players

• Wicked Wolf Distillery: Devon-based gin producer whose Wicked Wolf brand is retailed alongside Exmoor's ales. Direct brand-extension overlap and a comparable craft spirits/whisky/South West identity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/exmoor-ales-limited

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Exmoor Ales