Our Beers
Great Ale Since 1843
In 1860 a newspaper advertisement announced a range of Arkell's ale for sale. 4X was 1/8 per gallon, 3X 1/4, XX 1/-, X 8d and for just 6d you could buy a gallon of Table Ale. Those beers have long since gone, but today's beers are still brewed by similar methods and the choice is even greater.
All of our regular beers rely on Goldings and Progress whole hops for bitterness, while Fuggles hops provide that magical hoppy aroma.
One of the main reasons why our beers have such a rich flavour is the use of youthful and virile yeast. We have four main beers which we brew all year round, four seasonal beers - for spring, summer, autumn and winter - plus a magnificent Christmas ale. We also brew special commemorative beers. Arkell's is a year-round beer festival for the discerning drinker.
Organic Ale
Bee's Organic Ale
Launched in October 2001, Bee's is Arkell's first organic ale - and was recently voted 'Organic Ale of the Year'.
Organically-grown malted barley, hops and, unusually, organically-produced honey are used in the brew. These give this golden premium bottled ale a light, fresh taste - with the organic honey providing a delightful and surprising flavour.
ABV: 4.5%
Our Familiar Favourites
Pilsner
Brewed in the traditional Czech fashion, bottom fermented and cold-conditioned.
This is a classic continental style Pilsner produced at Arkell's Kingsdown brewery using authentic Czech hops, such as the Saaz.
ABV 3.8%.
2B
Formerly called BB or John Arkell Bitter, this is our lighter beer, described as "Fine quaffable session bitter" in the 'Real Ale Drinker's Almanac'. Made from 92% pale malt, 6% crystal malt and 2% sugar, it has a light, hoppy aroma and is a thirst-quenching beer with a slightly tart taste and a dry hop finish. 2B is a low gravity drinking beer which is nevertheless full of flavour. It has been brewed constantly since the early 1900s and was Arkell's most popular brew until it was overtaken by 3B in the 1970s. 2B is also available in bottles when it is known simply as Light Ale.
ABV: 3.2%
3B
Arkell's Best Bitter Beer, as it was originally known, was first brewed in 1910 and has been affectionately known as BBB or 3B by customers ever since. (One Swindon landlord will tell you that 'BBB' stands for "Big Boy's Beer".)
3Bs - Three Choices!
Today, 3B is renowned by Britain's beer lovers as a superb, amber brew with a very distinctive taste and a sweet scent of malt beneath the hops. Pale malt makes up 88% of the dry ingredients along with 10% crystal malt and 2% sugar. According to the 'Real Ale Drinker's Almanac', 3B has "delicate, beautifully balanced malt and hop with lingering dry finish and hint of nut".
ABV: 4%
Kingsdown Ale
Kingsdown Ale is the strongest of our regular beers but is a brother to 3B as it comes from the same mash. It retains a strong character of its own, however, with its rich colour, ripe fruit 'nose' and that traditional Arkell's hoppiness. You can taste the malt too, along with a bitter-sweet finish and fruit notes. 'Kingsdown', which is named after the area of Upper Stratton where the brewery is situated, was originally brewed as a special beer to commemorate Swindon Town Football Club's League Cup triumph in 1969 and went into regular production in 1976.
Also available in bottles.
ABV: 5%
Smooth
Satisfying the modern demand for 'smooth' beers, what better to call one of the smoothest beers around than simply 'Smooth'? This is the newest addition to the Arkell's range and retains that characteristic Arkell's flavour while also delivering the silky texture that many of our customers enjoy. Its lower alcohol content makes it a lighter alternative to other 'smooth' beers which are available.
ABV: 3.6%
Moonlight
Brewed in 2003 to celebrate the 80th birthday of Arkell's Chairman, Peter Arkell OBE. Specially called 'Moonlight' in commemoration of Peter's missions flying low-level sorties over France in 1943, picking up agents in central occupied France during the full moon period.
This beer has been brewed using a special blend of malts and English Fuggles and Susan hops to give a beautiful golden colour, lingering taste and toasty aroma.
ABV: 4.5%
Also available in bottles. ABV: 5%
Seasonal Beers
The seasonal availability of a wide range of English malts and hops, as well as some exciting continental varieties, allows us to produce beers suitable for everyone's taste throughout the year.
Organic Ale
Following its huge success since its launch in bottles in 2001, Arkell's award-winning Bee's Organic Ale joined the regular roster of special, seasonal ales in April 2007.
Organically-grown malted barley, hops and, unusually, organically-produced honey are used in the brew. These give this cask-conditioned ale a light, fresh taste - with the organic honey providing a delightful and surprising flavour.
ABV: 4.5%
James' Real Ale
Brewed especially for Arkell's managing director James Arkell's 50th birthday, this beer was so popular with drinkers that we've added it permanently to our portfolio of seasonal beers.
A dry hopped, pale, with English Goldings, JRA is a golden colour with delicious hop aroma and full after-flavour.
ABV: 3.6%
Yeomanry Bicentenary Ale
'Yeomanry' is full-bodied but with a distinctive hoppy taste, achieved by adding whole hops in the cask. It was the first of our seasonal beers and marks the long association between the brewery and the Yeomanry of England, which celebrated its 200th anniversary in 1994.
ABV: 5%
Summer Ale
Just the beer for those long evenings, Summer Ale is refreshingly light in both colour and taste. In fact, it is suited to whatever weather the British summer has to offer and has been a favourite with Arkell's drinkers since it was introduced in 1994.
ABV: 4.0%
Peter's Porter
Peter Arkell is the only chairman of the company to have a beer named after him during his own lifetime - that's him on the award-winning beermats and pump clips. Available in the autumn, Peter's Porter is a smooth, dark and delicious brew and reflects the taste of yesteryear.
ABV: 4.8%
Mash Tun Mild
Made between the wars when it was called 'Home-Brewed' and sold in bottles, this beer was re-introduced in 1990 as Mash Tun Mild - named after the vessel used in the brewing process. It is now available on draught during the winter months and is dark, malty and lightly hopped, with a creamy after-palate.
ABV: 3.5%
And... Our Favourite Seasonal Ale!
Noël Ale
Launched in 1987 and named in honour of the present Chairman's father, Sir Noel Arkell, who was born on Christmas Day. The strongest of Arkell's Ales, this full-bodied beer is cleverly disguised by its distinctive light colour, and slides down very easily, leaving drinkers with a warm, tingling feeling.
Noël Ale in bottles - the perfect stocking filler!
The golden colour of our 'winter warmer', which is available only in December, disguises its full malty and hoppy flavour.
ABV: 5.0%
Commemorative Ales
Arkell's has a long and proud tradition of producing beers to commemorate important events and the practice continues today. These include marking various royal events over the years including Welcome Ale, made in November, 1997 to coincide with Her Majesty The Queen's visit to Swindon; toasting the 75th anniversary of the RAF; the 150th anniversary of the Great Western Railway; and, of course, celebrating the brewery's own 150th anniversary.
In 2005, we brewed a special ale, 'Swindon Pride', to pay tribute to our home town and mark the occasion of our former Finance Director, Ray Fisher, becoming the Mayor of Swindon.
