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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6.4
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5

Hand-pulled half-pint in The Mitre, Witheridge Devon on 31st January 2024. Black bodied with a tan coloured head, supposed to be a half-strength Exmoor Beast, but I'm not too sure. Malty with very little hop action, very pleasant for a 3.3% ABV brew, so well done for that.

Tried on 01 Feb 2024 at 00:33


6.2
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

440ml can on 20th January 2024 in a Barnstable Spoons. Mucky haze to the red/brown body, soft beige head that tried to hang around. Malty front with a Rye like aroma and taste, some resinous hop action in there as well.

Tried from Can on 20 Jan 2024 at 14:51


6.6
Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 6.5

Ruby brown with a creamy/frothy tan head. Lightly roasted malt on the nose, medium/full bodied, alcoholic strength noticeable right up front, there’s sweetness from chocolate and dark fruits alongside lightly roasted malt, some dry bitterness in the finish and just a hint of spice

Tried from Cask at Shrewsbury Hotel on 18 Jan 2024 at 09:00


6.6
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5

Cask @ Wobbly Brewery Tap. Pours clear gold, good white head. Strong juniper.. quite herbal sweet.. not bad.

Tried from Cask on 10 Dec 2023 at 19:27


6.5
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6

Cask at the Gordon Highlander. It pours clear mahogany brown with a sturdy khaki head. The aroma is nutty, woody, sappy, eggy aspect, egg sandwich, bitter - sweet, toasted spice, brown bread and toffee. The taste is dry and nutty upfront, sappy wood, toasty brown bread, bitter - sweet character, chewy, toothy, warming spice and a touch of alcohol in the mix. Finish is dry and toasted nuts. Medium body and fine, velvety carbonation. A decent enough robust festiva ale. The eggy character detracts a touch, but isn't overwhelming. Ok.

Tried from Cask on 08 Dec 2023 at 12:43


6
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6

Cask @ JDW Shrewsbury Hotel. Pours amber, off-white crown. Gentle fruitcake sweetness, smooth malt. Ok.

Tried from Cask on 28 Nov 2023 at 11:08


7
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

Cask @ Magic Dragon Brewery Tap, Wrexham. Pours a clear dark ruby, off-white head. Quite a rich ruby red, with a dark toffee sweetness, stewed dark fruits.. ok overall.

Tried from Cask on 24 Nov 2023 at 20:12


6.8
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7

Can. Appearance - deep murky brown with a big foamy off white head. Nose - cake, brown bread, hazelnut and light toffee. Taste - brown bread and hazelnut. Again light toffee. Palate - medium bodied then sweet and roasty finish. Overall - not quite on style but quite enjoyable.

Tried from Can on 22 Oct 2023 at 18:54


6.8
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7

Cask-conditioned at the Commercial Rooms (JDW), Bristol September 2023. Pale golden in colour, with a frothy, white, head. Grassy hops, pineapple and tangerine fruit, with a herbal edge, rich tea malts and dryish finish. Enjoyable.

Tried from Cask on 28 Sep 2023 at 14:36


6.6
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6.5

Cask-conditioned at the Commercial Rooms (JDW), Bristol 28/8/2023. Reddish-amber in colour, with a frothy, off-white, head. Leafy hops, red berries, some caramel, rich malts, a hint of orange peel and a moderately bitter finish. Good.

Tried from Cask on 28 Sep 2023 at 14:27