Exmoor Ales

Microbrewery in Wiveliscombe, Somerset, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
Owned by Hogs Back Brewery

Established in 1979

Contact
Exmoor Brewery, Ford Road, Wiveliscombe, TA4 2RE, England
Description
Exmoor Ales – brewing quality cask and bottled ales from the edge of Exmoor National Park since 1979

Brewery suffered financial problems and in April 2025 were bought by Hogs Back. Brewing moved to Hogs Back until a move to the former Cotleigh Brewery site in September 2025.

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6/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 6 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 6

Cask (handpump) @ The Waiting Rooms, 🇬🇧 39-47 Westgate Rd, NE1 5SG Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, England.

[ As Exmoor Exile Apollo ].
ABV: 4.2%. Clear medium yellow amber colour with a average, frothy, good lacing, mostly lasting to diminishing, off-white to white head. Aroma is moderate malty, caramel, pale malt, sweet malt. Flavor is moderate sweet with a average duration, pale malt, sweet malt, fruity malt. Body is medium, texture is oily to watery, carbonation is soft to flat. [20180722]
6-3-6-3-12
Tried from Cask on 22 Jul 2018 at 15:32

6/10
Tried on 22 Jul 2018 at 15:32

6.8/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 6 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 7
Cask pint on 18th July 2018 at The Thelbridge Cross Inn, just outside Witheridge, Devon. Light amber, clear and bright, the head a thin white blanket of foam. Malty front to the semi-sweet brew in both the nose and taste, mild bitterness creeps in later to give a nicely balanced easy drinking 'Cooking Bitter'.
Tried from Cask on 19 Jul 2018 at 16:28

6.8/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 6 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 7
Hand-pulled pint on 19th July 2018, in the garden of a pub next to the longest Clapper Bridge in Britain (Tarr Steps, Exmoor). Light golden body, white blanket on top. Slight malty lead in both the nose and taste, hops give a mild bitterness, no Juniper or Gin like esters/flavours in the beer as far as my senses could tell. Easy drinking in the afternoon sun after a four mile hike with the wife and two dogs though.
Tried on 19 Jul 2018 at 16:21

7.4/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 8 Texture 6 Overall 7.5
Cask at Cobblestones, Bridgwater. Pours clear dark ruby amber with a cream head. Aroma: nutty, dark fruits, toffee, chocolate. Taste: light to moderate sweet, dark fruits, chocolate, toffee, hint of coffee, liquorice. Medium bodied. light carbonation, vinous sweet finish.
Tried from Cask on 15 Jul 2018 at 10:27

6.2/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 6 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 6
Handpull cask at the Old Horse, Leicester. Mid- to dark gold and clear with a tight white head. Raw grain and honeys malt in the aroma. Sweet taste with a spiciness from the malt and a good dollop of cheap honey. It's a standard malt-led cask golden but none the less enjoyable for that. If you're looking for a beer to change your life, move on, but this is reasonably solid.
Tried from Cask on 16 Jun 2018 at 19:59

6/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 5
1/6/2018. Cask at the Cutter Inn, Ely. Pours amber with a small off-white head. Aroma of caramel, fruit, malt, hop and a hint of coffee. Moderate sweetness, light to moderate bitterness. Medium body, slight oily and watery texture, soft carbonation. So so.
Tried from Cask on 01 Jun 2018 at 18:25

5.6/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 5 Flavor 5 Texture 8 Overall 5.5
Forever Bury Beer Festival 2018. Clear copper in colour. It's a clean smoothish bitter with a low bitterness.
Tried on 24 May 2018 at 13:31

6/10
Tried from Cask on 11 Apr 2018 at 14:21

5.4/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 5 Flavor 5 Texture 6 Overall 5.5
Cask @ Hen Orsaf, Aberystwyth. Deep golden with a glow. It has a small head and is sweet-hoppy with berry-fruit flavours evident.
Tried from Cask on 11 Apr 2018 at 00:24