What the website says…
We believe that great beer can make great things happen, therefore Bestens is more more than just a brewery… We will commit to making a donation from the profit of each beer sold to our community fund, this will then be shared amongst those projects and charities we have partnered with.
Our take on the brewery…
There’s a palpable focus on doing good for community and charity at Bestens Brewery. Not only do they exclusively sell only into independent off licences, wine merchants and pubs, but a percentage of literally every drop sold is donated to charity. The name even comes from the German phrase ‘Alles Bestens’, or ‘Everything Is Good’.
They are relatively small, but during 2020 they have increased output capacity so that they can meet the increasing demand for their tasty modern beer range, primarily focused on a diverse range of excellent pales.
Interestingly Bestens only brew in seasonal batches in order to keep their beers a little more scarce and sought after. These are released in four main ranges: Destinations (homages to places seen and loved), Icons (dedications to beloved friends and family), Darkness (modern stouts) and the Pale Ale series (probably self explanatory…)
A bit of history…
Founder and Head Brewer Paul Swaffield has always had a fascination for the brewing process – ever since going on the Harvey’s brewery tour as a chemistry student. He then became a home brewer, continuing at university and picking it up again more recently.
After moving back to the UK, fuelled by an urgent need to find good vegan beers, he put his chemistry skills and a passion for modern beers to good use. Crowdfunded by generous friends and family members, he set up Bestens Brewery in 2017.
The brewery opened a taproom on site in 2018, in 2019 launched their first pop-up taproom in the Orchards Shopping Centre, Haywards Heath, and in 2020 Paul invested heavily in new equipment to meet growing demand for Bestens beers across Sussex.
How local are they?
The brewery is located just outside Horsham in Lower Beeding, not a million miles from Brighton, and you can find their cans in a few independent pubs, cafés and shops across Brighton and Hove. These are The Independent in Hanover; Cafe Porteur in Hove; Wine Barrel and Higgins of Hove on Western Road; Kindly online sustainable supermarket; and HISBE sustainable supermarket by St Peter’s Church.
Our favourites 🍺
We’ve only sampled a small proportion of the range so far, but can safely recommend The Boy With X-Ray Specs as a 5.5% banger of a New Zealand style pale. It’s complex, sweet smelling, smooth drinking, dry and densely hoppy with a great mouth-feel and an Earl Grey tea flavour. Lingering in the background is a tinge of fruity sweetness, but then the beer finishes dry and bitter. Recommended for slow thoughtful drinking so that you appreciate the complexity.
We’d also recommend the Amarillo/Mosaic Pale Ale from the Pales series. It’s crisp and dry with a bitter backbone, a malty body and a musty hop-and-wheat finish. Great carbonation, sessionable at only 4.4% and really blimmin’ addictive.
Unit 17, Church Lane Farm Estate
Church Lane
Lower Beeding
Horsham
RH13 6LU
01403 892556
Unit 17, Church Lane Farm Estate
Church Lane
Lower Beeding
Horsham
RH13 6LU
01403 892556
What the website says…
We believe that great beer can make great things happen, therefore Bestens is more more than just a brewery… We will commit to making a donation from the profit of each beer sold to our community fund, this will then be shared amongst those projects and charities we have partnered with.
Our take on the brewery…
There’s a palpable focus on doing good for community and charity at Bestens Brewery. Not only do they exclusively sell only into independent off licences, wine merchants and pubs, but a percentage of literally every drop sold is donated to charity. The name even comes from the German phrase ‘Alles Bestens’, or ‘Everything Is Good’.
They are relatively small, but during 2020 they have increased output capacity so that they can meet the increasing demand for their tasty modern beer range, primarily focused on a diverse range of excellent pales.
Interestingly Bestens only brew in seasonal batches in order to keep their beers a little more scarce and sought after. These are released in four main ranges: Destinations (homages to places seen and loved), Icons (dedications to beloved friends and family), Darkness (modern stouts) and the Pale Ale series (probably self explanatory…)
A bit of history…
Founder and Head Brewer Paul Swaffield has always had a fascination for the brewing process – ever since going on the Harvey’s brewery tour as a chemistry student. He then became a home brewer, continuing at university and picking it up again more recently.
After moving back to the UK, fuelled by an urgent need to find good vegan beers, he put his chemistry skills and a passion for modern beers to good use. Crowdfunded by generous friends and family members, he set up Bestens Brewery in 2017.
The brewery opened a taproom on site in 2018, in 2019 launched their first pop-up taproom in the Orchards Shopping Centre, Haywards Heath, and in 2020 Paul invested heavily in new equipment to meet growing demand for Bestens beers across Sussex.
How local are they?
The brewery is located just outside Horsham in Lower Beeding, not a million miles from Brighton, and you can find their cans in a few independent pubs, cafés and shops across Brighton and Hove. These are The Independent in Hanover; Cafe Porteur in Hove; Wine Barrel and Higgins of Hove on Western Road; Kindly online sustainable supermarket; and HISBE sustainable supermarket by St Peter’s Church.
Our favourites 🍺
We’ve only sampled a small proportion of the range so far, but can safely recommend The Boy With X-Ray Specs as a 5.5% banger of a New Zealand style pale. It’s complex, sweet smelling, smooth drinking, dry and densely hoppy with a great mouth-feel and an Earl Grey tea flavour. Lingering in the background is a tinge of fruity sweetness, but then the beer finishes dry and bitter. Recommended for slow thoughtful drinking so that you appreciate the complexity.
We’d also recommend the Amarillo/Mosaic Pale Ale from the Pales series. It’s crisp and dry with a bitter backbone, a malty body and a musty hop-and-wheat finish. Great carbonation, sessionable at only 4.4% and really blimmin’ addictive.
Bestens Brewery Interview: “Alles Bestens”
Jul 30, 2020
A grass roots husband and wife partnership who have built their philanthropic brewery on generosity and excellent modern pale ales Read Full Article