Wye Valley Brewery: Forty Years of Proper Herefordshire Beer (and Why We Sell More HPA Than Any Other)

At The Baiting House we’ve always been big believers in championing the best of what’s on our doorstep. That’s why you’ll regularly find casks from Wye Valley Brewery on the bar – and why we sell more of their HPA than any other beer.

This year marks over forty years since the brewery was founded, so we thought it was the perfect time to tell their story.

The story of Wye Valley Brewery

Wye Valley Brewery was started in the summer of 1985 by Peter Amor, a former Guinness brewer who wanted to create something closer to home. He began in a tiny space at the back of the Nag’s Head pub in Canon Pyon, Herefordshire, brewing small batches of cask-conditioned beer with a simple aim: to make something really good.

Before long the operation moved to the old stable block of The Barrels in Hereford (their first tied pub), and the business started to grow. Peter’s son Vernon, who had trained at Young’s Brewery in London, joined the team and in 2002 took over as managing director. Today it remains a proud third-generation family business, still based in the heart of Herefordshire at a former cider mill in Stoke Lacy.

They’ve stayed true to their roots: using British Maris Otter barley, whole hop cones (more than half of them grown within ten miles of the brewery), and keeping things properly independent. No flashy marketing, just consistently excellent beer.

HPA – our local hero

Their flagship beer, HPA (Hereford Pale Ale), is a proper crowd-pleaser: a crisp, citrusy 4% pale ale that’s become a modern classic in the West Midlands and beyond. It’s straw-coloured, refreshing, and perfectly balanced – exactly the sort of beer you want on a warm evening in the garden or with a plate of our food.

We’ve been stocking Wye Valley for years and HPA has always been a standout. In fact, we shift more of it here at The Baiting House than any other single beer on the bar. That tells you everything you need to know about how much our locals and guests love it.

Why it matters to us

There’s something special about pouring a pint from a brewery just up the road. It supports a family business in the same county, uses local hops where possible, and tastes of where we are. It fits perfectly with the way we cook – seasonal, honest, and proud of its Herefordshire and Worcestershire roots.

So next time you’re in the bar or sitting outside one of the lodges, raise a glass to Wye Valley Brewery. Forty years of great beer and still going strong – we couldn’t be prouder to be one of their biggest fans.

Come and try a pint (or two) while the spring weather lasts. You’ll see why we keep the cask flowing.