About
In 1995 Vale was founded to bring beautiful ales packed full of flavour to the people of Buckinghamshire.
Four years later in 1999, our current Head Brewer Dave Renton joined the team, putting his signature stamp and seal of approval on every Vale beer in the 23 years since.
With a host of awards following in quick succession, we expanded out of our Haddenham home, settling in the hill-top village of Brill, known for being JRR Tolkien's inspiration for the village of Bree in The Lord of the Rings.
In 2021, brothers Joe & Jimmy Brouder purchased the brewery from founders Phil & Mark Stevens.
With a new chapter beginning at Vale, our priorities remain the same: to make wonderful ales each and every time, nothing else.
Four years later in 1999, our current Head Brewer Dave Renton joined the team, putting his signature stamp and seal of approval on every Vale beer in the 23 years since.
With a host of awards following in quick succession, we expanded out of our Haddenham home, settling in the hill-top village of Brill, known for being JRR Tolkien's inspiration for the village of Bree in The Lord of the Rings.
In 2021, brothers Joe & Jimmy Brouder purchased the brewery from founders Phil & Mark Stevens.
With a new chapter beginning at Vale, our priorities remain the same: to make wonderful ales each and every time, nothing else.
Part of the group
6.1/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Cask at GBBF ’10. Black pour, beige head. Caramel, coffee, chocolate aromas. Heavy coffee flavours with a smattering of chocolate. Slightly bitter.
Tried
from Cask
on 07 Aug 2010
at 09:24
7.4/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Cask, gravity at Merton Summer Beer Festival 16-07-10 Pours gold with nice bubbly white head. We had a dry hopped version of the standard beer, dry hopped with cascade. The nose was amongst the hoppiest aroma of any Vale beer that I’ve ever tried, with really fresh hops flying off of this, I really noticed this when I was pouring one for somebody that the nose was literally leaping out at me. Flavour wise it was good, not as good as the aroma might have suggested but it was crisper, with a late bitterness, and whilst there was an underlying sweetness throughout the bitterness and a dry finish and those hops certainly made sure that this was quite a popular beer amongst those attending. A8 A4 T7 P3 Ov15 3.7
Tried
from Cask
on 23 Jul 2010
at 00:18
5.9/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 5
Texture 6
Overall 5.5
Cask at The Hop Pole, Aylesbury, Bucks 07-06-10 This did indeed pour chestnut in colour as the description suggested with an off white head, condition wise this was absolutely fine but taste wise not my bag at all. It was really quite malty but also bitter and fruity, maybe it was one of them days when you just want some light hoppy gold and refreshing beer I’m not sure but I do know that this didn’t really do it for me at all and even though I only had a half I was glad at the end. A6 A4 T5 P3 Ov11 2.9
Tried
from Cask
on 07 Jun 2010
at 11:10
5/10
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Appearance 4
Aroma 5
Flavor 6
Texture 4
Overall 5
[Cask at the Old Road Tavern, Chippenham] Slightly cloudy golden colour with a moderate white head. The strong and lasting initial bitterness was too much for me. Behind it I could just about discern lemon and maybe a bit of earth, but this beer was really not for me.
Tried
from Cask
on 03 Jun 2010
at 12:47
5.5/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 5
Texture 4
Overall 6
Cask. Pours a cloudy opaque dark brown with an orange hue and a small beige head. Lightly nutty and roasted nose. Light body, flat, roasted nutty accents and even roast all through the finish. Has a vague underlying tartness. Not much of a Porter. 200110
Tried
from Cask
on 14 May 2010
at 07:01
6/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Cask (handpump) @ The New Wheatsheaf, 24 Southwark Street, Greater London, England SE1 1TY.Clear medium to dark amber color with a average, frothy to creamy, good lacing, mostly lasting, off-white head. Aroma is moderate malty, roasted, caramel, nutty - earthy, damp stained - mold. Flavor is moderate sweet and bitter with a average duration, overripped citrus. Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is soft to flat. [20091229]
Tried
from Cask
on 10 May 2010
at 11:36
6.5/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Cask (handpump) @ The New Wheatsheaf, 24 Southwark Street, Greater London, England SE1 1TY.Clear medium amber color with a average, creamy, good lacing, mostly lasting, off-white head. Aroma is moderate malty, caramel, dusty roasted, berry, wood, licoricce - anis, light to moderate hoppy, citrus - orange. Flavor is moderate to heavy sweet and bitter with a long duration. Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is soft to flat. [20091229]
Tried
from Cask
on 10 May 2010
at 09:17
5.2/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 5
Texture 4
Overall 5
Cask. Pours a clear amber golden with a small off-white head. Nutty nose. Medium body, flat, sweet caramel and nuts with a light bitterness. Has a vague underlying tartness. 200110
Tried
from Cask
on 22 Apr 2010
at 11:39
6.6/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Cask handpump at The Hop Pole, Aylesbury, Bucks 19-04-10 Pours mid/dark amber in colour but tricky in light of pub with off white head. Aroma is fruity and malty as is the taste. Bit chewy, some toffee, the strength shows and whilst this is decent is doesn’t offer that much, its a ’one trick pony’ but absolutely fine for being that. A chap ordered one whilst I was stood at the bar and asked for my opinion, I said it was fine but tasted very similar to the Grumpling (as I recall) Btw at that time I wasn’t aware of the Grumpling strength as it wasn’t on at this time, but now note it is also 4.6%, I will do a bit of detective work as whilst I’m not certain, this could be an alias? A6 A4 F7 P3 Ov13 3.3
Tried
from Cask
on 19 Apr 2010
at 11:03
7.2/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
Cask, handpump at The Hop Pole, Aylesbury, Bucks 12-04-10 Pours gold with a white wispy head, clear. Light hoppiness on the nose. Good bitterness in the mouth allied with a silky honeyness, but bitterness not in the least bit aggressive, dry finish, another nice monthly special from Vale. A7 A4 F7 P4 Ov14 3.6
Tried
from Cask
on 12 Apr 2010
at 11:26