Goachers Brewery is an independent brewery based in Maidstone, which supplies a number of public houses across Kent.

Goachers Brewery
IndustryAlcoholic beverage
Founded1983
FounderP & D J Goacher
Headquarters
Tovil, Kent
,
United Kingdom
Key people
P & D J Goacher
ProductsBeer
OwnerP & D J Goacher
Websitegoachers.com

Range

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Goachers only uses malt and Kentish hops in its beers, producing a core range of ales comprising a mild, two bitter ales, a stout and a pale ale. It also produces regular seasonal ales.

  • Real Mild Ale is a dark mild with an ABV of 3.4% that is hopped with Kent Fuggles
  • Fine Light Ale is a pale bitter with an ABV of 3.7% hopped with WGV and East Kent Golding hops
  • Best Dark Ale is a rich bitter with an ABV of 4.1% hopped with East Kent Golding hops
  • Silver Star Ale is a seasonal pale ale with an ABV of 4.2% hopped with Kent Fuggles. This was first produced in 2008 to celebrate Goacher's 25th anniversary
  • Crown Imperial Stout is a seasonal 4.5% ABV stout with a high level of Kent Fuggles hops
  • Gold Star Ale is a pale ale with an ABV of 5.1% and hopped with East Kent aroma hops
  • Old 1066 Ale is a seasonal barley wine with an ABV of 6.7% and produced in small quantities since 1983
  • House Ale has an ABV of 3.8%. It was originally a blend of Fine Light and Best Dark but is now brewed as an independent ale.[1]

Real Mild, Fine Light Ale and Crown Imperial Stout have been CAMRA beers of the year.[2]

History

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Goachers was founded by Phil and Debbie Goacher in 1983. Originally it was situated close to Hayle Mill,[3] later moving to larger premises on a nearby industrial estate in 1990.

Maidstone has a long history of brewing dating back to 1650, including breweries such as Style and Winch, Fremlins Brewery, Masons and Isherwood, Foster and Stacey.[4] The last remaining brewery in the town (Fremlins Brewery) closed in 1972. Goachers was the first new independent brewery in the town, reviving Maidstone's brewing tradition.[5]

Goachers has two tied houses (The Rifle Volunteers in Maidstone and The Royal Paper Mill in Tovil) and supplies numerous free houses across Kent.[6] Goachers bought another pub - The Little Gem in Aylesford - in 2019 which needed renovation and was opened in 2021.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "Beers and Ales". Goachers Brewery.
  2. ^ "Goachers Brewery". Campaign for Real Ale. Retrieved 22 September 2009.
  3. ^ Barber, Norman (1994). A century of British brewers, 1890-1990. Brewery History Society. p. 45. ISBN 978-1-873-96604-4.
  4. ^ Alan Smith (24 June 2016). "Maidstone's manufacturing past: paper, steam engines and custard". Kent Online.
  5. ^ "History of Goacher's Maidstone Ales". P & D J Goacher. Retrieved 22 September 2009.
  6. ^ "P & DJ Goacher". Quaffale. Retrieved 22 September 2009.
  7. ^ Jess Sharp (19 August 2019). "The Little Gem in Aylesford set to reopen after being bought by Goachers Ales". Kent Online.
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