Uffa Micro Brewery

The brewing of ale in Ufford is as old as Ufford itself. Indeed, ale and bread have been the staple diet of cereal growing communities since biblical times.Uffa brewery is located in the old coach house ajacent to the shop/delli next to the pub.

The selection olf Uffa Ales

Uffa Gold 3.7% ABV

By definition, gold in colour, a good tsessional ale, flavoured with goldings hops, extremely popular.

Ufford Tipple 3.7%  ABV

Gold in colour but bitter in taste, cascade hopd dominate this interesting tipple!

Uffa Pride 3.7% ABV

Aclassic darker bitter 

Uffa Punch 3.7% ABV

A dark bitter, dried hopped with cascade  

The History of Brewing

The regeneration of our area by the Angles in the 6th century would have developed the growing of cereals and, therefore, the brewing of ale.  The recipe was simple and has basically remained the same over the centuries: the malting process turned the starch within barley into a form of sugar.  Once boiled into a mash the addition of yeast turned this sugar into the alcoholic component of the resulting ale. For variety a number of herbs were often infused but about 500 years ago the addition of hops became a popular development. This not only gave the ale a distinctive bitter flavour but also helped preserve it. Hopped ale became known as beer and was especially popular in England. 

Beer was generally produced on a domestic scale, but places offering hospitality; alehouses, taverns and inns, would have brewed and sold their own brew on a larger scale. It was not until the industrial revolution that larger breweries emerged. But even then smaller scale brewing continued up to World War 1.

The classick Ask the Fellows who Cut the Hay by George Ewart Evans was published in 1956 but describes the passed-down memories of life a century before in our neighbouring village of Blaxhall. A section is devoted to the domestic brewing of beer. This was the responsibility of the housewife. The cleaning of utensils and containers would start the day before. Then, all the household would have a role…children were kept at home. At farms enough was brewed for the workforce, over 50 gallons a time. A cottage brew would have been about 20 gallons. The ingredients were the same: a bushel of malt, which was usually part of a farm worker`s stipend; a pound of hops costing a shilling,  and a pint of yeast which was passed round the village. Most cottages brewed twice a year and it kept for that length of time if 2 handfuls of clean wheat were added to the finished brew. The clergy also received gifts of malt and this was used to brew “Church Ale” for consumption on Whit Wednesday with the proceeds going towards Church funds.

For at least three-quarters of its existence this would describe the conditions and background in which the White Lion operated. The community should be pleased, therefore, that Stephen and Gaynor are returning to the traditions of the past and are producing Ufford`s own beers. These will be brewed from finest local malt and a variety of hops depending on the recipe. A gleaming purpose built micro brewery has ,however, given our new brewers an advantage over their forebears and we can look forward to some interesting, refreshing pints.
The budget of 2002 reduced the rate of duty for small brewers so there should be every incentive for the village to support this important historic development.

Uffa Brewery Membership & Loyalty Card

Uffa brewery invites you to join like minded Real ale enthusiasts to    participate in the following social events & gain the  following benefits.

1. Seasonal Uffa brewery tastings
2. Two brewery tours & supper
3. Annual visit to Muntons Malting's at Stowemarket
4. Pin & Firkin purchase of Uffa ales at attractive rates.(Including chucks, ox stand, spiels, taps & glasses. Deposit for barrel & glasses will be required
5. A complimentary bottle from any commemorative brew during your year of membership.
6. A commemorative Uffa brewery pint glass.
7. We will arrange a trip to the Ipswich beer festival. This year being held on Ipswich docks as part of Maritime Ipswich (Thursday18th to Sunday 21st August 2011).
8. We will provide you with a Loyalty card giving you 20% discount on beer purchased from the Uffa Ales