About Moles Brewery...

One of a pioneering group of 'microbrewerys' which started producing cask beers in the early 1980's, Moles Brewery has now celebrated more than a quarter of a century in business, during which time the company's all-malt beers have gained a solid reputation for quality and consistency amongst real ale drinkers in the
south-west of England.

Moles Brewery produces a range of 'core' brands complemented by seasonals and occasional 'event' brews, many of which have won awards at local and regional beer festivals.

Moles beers can be found in free houses throughout the UK, in addition to a small group of pubs operated by associate company Cascade Public House Management.

Moles History

25 years ago, a mineral water company in rural Wiltshire hit upon a novel idea to boost business - create an in-house brewery. The early 1980’s was witnessing the first micro-brewery boom, with several of today’s established companies about to fill their first casks.

A friend of one of the company’s owners knew a brewer who worked for Watney’s in London, and wondered if he might be interested in helping set up the new operation. Thus it was that Melksham Spa Mineral Waters Ltd - shortly to change its operating name to Cascade Drinks Ltd - came to engage Roger Catte in a relationship that has endured 25 years, and counting…

Roger’s first task was to source some brewing equipment, and he returned to London to commission a custom-built 10 barrel plant which was installed in the same brewhouse at Bowerhill which is used today. At the same time the new business was christened Moles Brewery, inspired by Roger’s nickname.

Moles Cask Bitter was the fledgling brewery’s first offering and, like all Moles products, was an all-malt brew, with no supplemental sugars added. In October 1985 Roger was offered the opportunity to buy the business which employed him and, along with wife Laura, the Catte family became the new owners of Cascade Drinks Ltd. To make life even more frenetic than it was, the couple purchased the freehold of the Rising Sun on Bowden Hill, Lacock, and ran the pub alongside the brewery and drinks business, establishing a showcase for the company’s beers.

A decision was taken in the early 1990’s that would provide Moles Brewery with its own tied estate, albeit with the restrictions imposed by pub-leasing giant, Inntrepreneur.

Nine pubs were acquired in a single deal, and of these, four are still operated by Cascade Public House Management today. These are the Bear at Cirencester, Cat & Wheel in Bristol, Crown Inn at Keynsham, and Old Crown in Twerton, Bath. Due to the current terms of the lease, only the first two are allowed to sell a Moles beer.

A key brand launch that was to provide a profitable boost to the operation came in 1995, with the birth of Black Rat cider. First available as a keg product, subsequently bottled and then made available in traditional ‘scrumpy’ form, the brand has gone on to become firmly established in the free trade throughout the South West of England, and even further afield.

To celebrate 25 years since the founding of Moles Brewery, the company introduced a special celebration beer - Moleten Silver - a golden-coloured 4.6%abv premium bitter. There was also a mini-beer festival at the Rising Sun, with beers from Burton Bridge, B&T, Pilgrim, Phoenix, Big Lamp, HB Clark and RCH. All companies which were established at the same time as Moles, and which, like the Melksham brewer, have proved that quality will always stand the test of time.