| Type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Alcoholic beverage |
| Founded | 1890 |
| Founder(s) | George and Ernest Adnams |
| Headquarters | Southwold, Suffolk, England |
| Area served | UK |
| Key people | Jonathan Adnams |
| Products | Beer, spirits |
| Production output | 85,000 barrels |
| Owner(s) | Adnams has more than 1000 shareholders |
Adnams PLC is a British regional brewery company founded in 1890 in Southwold, Suffolk, England, by George and Ernest Adnams. The earliest recorded brewing on the Adnams site was in 1396 by Johanna de Corby.[1] The company produces cask ale and pasteurised bottled beers. Annual production is around 85,000 barrels. In 2010, the company established the Copper House Distillery for the production of gin, vodka and whisky.
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The Sole Bay Brewery in Southwold was purchased in 1872 by George and Ernest Adnams. The company was incorporated in 1890, and has remained independent since then, producing a range of beers for distribution mainly in East Anglia. The Adnams family was joined in 1902 by Pierse Loftus and his brother Jack,[1] and Adnams still has members of each family on the board, with Jonathan Adnams as chairman and Simon Loftus as a non-executive director.
In 1993, Adnams Extra won the Champion Beer of Britain (CBOB) - an award presented by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) at the annual Great British Beer Festival. Adnams remains committed to brewing cask ale and operating non-themed pubs. Cask ale is available in all its 70 pubs, and it supplies more than 1000 other outlets direct. New fermenting vessels were installed in 2001-3 to cope with demand, and the brewhouse was completely re-equipped in 2006-7, making it one of the most energy efficient in Europe. At the beginning of 2004, Adnams purchased land in neighbouring village of Reydon to expand its business with a new distribution centre, designed by architect Jeremy Blake, which was nominated for the 2007 RICS East of England Award for Sustainability.[2] Adnams was awarded a Queen's Award for Enterprise in the sustainable development category in 2005.[3]
Casks of Adnams ale used to be delivered to the pubs of Southwold by horse and dray until September 2006, when the distribution centre was moved to a new location two miles outside the town. Adnams' most recent advertising campaign has the slogan: "Beer from the Coast". Adnams is also a major regional wine merchant and pub company.
The company founded a charity, The Adnams Charity,[4] in 1990 to celebrate its centenary as a public company. A percentage of the company's annual profits is used to support worthwhile causes within a 25-mile radius of Southwold.
In June 2009, Adnams signed a 5-year agreement to supply Ipswich Town FC with beers at their Portman Road stadium replacing the 14 year old association with Greene King, which in turn replaced the long links between the Club and Tolly Cobbold.
The bitter served in the pub featured in Channel 4's Shameless, The Jockey, is Adnams Old.
Adnams produce regular cask ales, seasonal ales, pasteurised bottled beers and "international" beers:[5]
From time to time, Adnams produce limited brews of speciality beers, either in the styles of non-UK beers, or using special international ingredients. These beers are usually available only from selected outlets. Past and current international beers have included:-
In 2010, the company set up The Copper House Distillery for the purpose of distilling high-quality “hand-crafted” spirits.
The range of products currently available are:
Whiskies will also be produced, although these will not be available for some years yet because of the requirement for them to be matured in wood for a minimum of three years.