A beer first produced in a tiny brewery near Bristol more than 45 years ago has become the top selling cask ale in the South West.
Butcombe Original, which was launched in 1978 by ex-Courage Western director Simon Whitmore after he struck out on his own, has replaced Doom Bar to take top slot in the region, according to latest industry figures. 
For many years Original was the only beer produced by Butcombe, which Mr Whitmore had set up in converted farm buildings near the village of Butcombe after having run the historic Courage Brewery in Bristol.
At the time few breweries were making what became known as ‘real ale’ and Butcombe built up a loyal following of beer lovers in the Bristol area.
Two years ago Original, which has an abv of 4%, officially become one of the most sought-after beers in the country, breaking into the UK’s Top 10 on-trade cask ales, according to market research group CGA.
Now CGA’s latest data has put it at No. 1 for cask beers in the South West – a position held by Cornish brewer Sharp’s Doom Bar for the past few years.
Butcombe’s parent company, Channel Island-based beer, wine and pub group Liberation – which bought it seven years ago – said Original had continued to grow strongly across all channels in what it called a challenging market.
It added: “Due to its excellent rate of sale and the value placed in it by both publicans and consumers, it has now overtaken Doom Bar to become the South West’s No.1 cask beer.”
Butcombe brewery, now based in Wrington, these days produces wide range of beers and also owns a chain of pubs and inns.
Liberation, which chalked up total like-for-like sales growth of 6.4% in the first six months of this year, said Butcombe’s brewing and drinks business had continued to grow, with sales up 1% on the same period year and “an excellent performance” in the UK free trade market with sales up 8.5% year-on-year.
The performance and growth of the Butcombe’s award-winning non-alcoholic IPA, Goram IPA Zero, across all channels had also led to an increase in the number of managed pubs now selling it in draught, including in London, it added.
Butcombe has recently launched a second non-alcoholic beer, Tall Tales Pale Ale Zero, to tap into the strength of the continued growth of the low and no-alcohol drinks market, with initial feedback being particularly positive, Liberation said.
Butcombe’s Bristol pubs include The Whitmore Tap on Whiteladies Road, which it converted three year ago into its first taproom and named after Simon Whitmore, who died in 2012.
