Five facts you didn't know about Macclesfield's Wincle Brewery
By Alex Greensmith
6th Mar 2024 | Advertisement Features
Every week, Macclesfield Nub News has an exclusive piece in our newsletter, sent to our newsletter subscribers 48 hours before anyone else.
As the exclusives are not meant to be time sensitive pieces, it gives our journalists the chance to write features and listicles about the town we love.
And this week, we met with a Macclesfield Nub News sponsor to do a deep dive on interesting nuggets on their history.
Macclesfield Nub News sat down with Wincle Brewery Founder Giles Meadows, to find out fascinating tidbits about the beloved beer-maker.
Here's five facts you probably did not know about Macclesfield's Wincle Brewery.
FACT 1: Water Way to Stand Out
Set in the remote beauty of Wincle, infrastructure isn't as easy as it sounds for residents, organisations and businesses that call the gorgeous village home.
There are no mains water in Wincle.
This means everyone is on a private water supply.
"All our water comes form a 70 metre well dug outside the brewery," said Giles.
This adds to the flavour profile of the beer, and means that no other brewery in the UK uses the same water that they do.
FACT 2: Beer Twisted with Melon, Man?
Wincle Brewery once brewed beer with Bez.
In the 2010s, when the Happy Mondays performer was in his honey phase, the famous Boltonian wanted to brew a honey beer.
And through the grapevine [or should we say hop vine?], the Madchester dancer and award-winning local brewery came together.
"That came about because a neighbour met him at a festival in Crewe," recalled Giles.
"It was really my first immersement with rock and roll."
FACT 3: Famous Enjoyers of Wincle Beer
As they have been going for 16 years, it is no surprise there have been some famous customers of Wincle Brewery over the years.
Former Manchester United footballer Robin Van Persie has enjoyed Wincle Brewing Company.
So has Janet Street Porter. The jury is stil out on whether her favourite beer is a porter!
England rugby player from Fran Cotton, who resides in Langley, is also a fan.
And while it wasn't an official Royal Seal of Approval, Giles has implied that the late Prince Philip has received the Sir Philip Beer.
The premium bitter, which is 4.2% and can still be bought, was a gift from Lord Derby who attends the Wincle Fete.
FACT 4: Central American Collaboration
With all due respect to the Central American country, Belize is not a country us Brits think about every day.
However, for Wincle Brewery, they do. And they brew!
"We were approached by a Brewer in Belize to brew a beer in Belize called an Export Stout," said Giles.
"It was through a mutual brewing connection.
"We describe it as a Caribbean style Guinness."
Enjoy with caution! The beer is 7%, and is caffeinated. It costs £4 a bottle.
Macclesfield: You can buy the 'Caribbean Export Stout' on this link.
FACT 5: Quickfire Round
And finally, what about the brewery itself?
Well, the land dates back to 1845, when it was ran by a Mr Charles Edwards.
Who'd have thought that 179 years later, an award-winning brewery which was at the forefront the of the UK craft beer revolution in the early 2010s, would stand here today.
However, they have not always been at Toll Farms Barn.
When the brewery was founded in 2008, they started five miles south from their current Wincle site, in nearby Rushton Spencer.
It wasn't until 2010, when they moved to Wincle.
It was a logical move as the brand was already named after Wincle, as Giles was already known in the Wincle community as an ex-landlord of The Ship Inn (just up the road from the Brewery) and as a Wincle resident.
Giles first visited Wincle on a school geography trip in 1987, and 37 years later he is very much Mr Wincle himself!
Wincle Brewing Company are a sponsor of Macclesfield Nub News.
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