The Millennium is going to be a real humdinger of a celebration at the award-winning Wychwood Brewery, thanks to the phenomenal success of their Millennium brew, Old Father Time.

The beer has already proved to be the most popular they have ever produced.

The Witney brewery is a fiercely independent micro-brewery founded in 1983 on the site of the extinct Clinch's Brewery, situated at The Crofts, Corn Street. It's flagship beers are Hobgoblin and Fiddler's Elbow, though they also the brewery also produces Old Devil, a bitter beer featuring honey, and The Dog's Bollocks, a full bodied, hoppy, golden brew made from Styrain hops and wheat, which tastes far better than its name suggests. Now they have brought out Old Father Time, a spicy ruby festive ale, created by head brewer Jeremy Moss from a blend of Bramling Cross hops Crystal and Amber malt which is their best mix yet.

The Bramling hops give it body and a good hoppy flavour, and the mix of malts provides a dry finish and a good rounded taste.

It's certainly a brew to be reckoned with.

Founder of the brewery, Chris Moss, says although Old Father Time has only just been released, sales are rocketing.

"We thought we were on to a winner when we created Three Lions to celebrate England's bid for the World Cup, but sales for Old Father Time have already outstripped that success. "During the World Cup we were creating 675 barrels of Three Lions a week. Last week we produced 820 barrels of Old Father Time, and the figures are still rising.

"It's an exciting time for the brewery even though times for small independent brewers in general are hard at the moment," he says.

Chris is conscious that with the takeover of Morrells Brewery, Oxford, and the forthcoming changes at Morland Brewery, Abingdon, there will only be three independent breweries operating out of Oxfordshire.

"Just Brakspear, Hook Norton and ourselves left now," says Chris. He feels that the national brewers hold all the cards and the lion's share of the market, making life difficult for the regional breweries and almost impossible for new breweries trying to establish themselves. "However, the success of Old Father Time suggests that we are not just fighting back against the monopolies, but we are coming up with a product that the public really like."

"We brewed this beer to appeal to both sexes. We wanted it to have the sort of flavour one would expect at this time of the year, which I'd describe as rich and seasonal.

"It seems as if we have got it right, for not only is it being drunk by both men and women, but they are asking for more, without effecting the sales of our other brands which are also in full flight."

Chris admits that fighting for their rightful place in the market has not been easy, he says that the brewing industry is going through an all time squeeze as they all fight for a declining market. However, his theory that quality and taste usually win through in the end appears to be the way forward.

"What we can't fight are the number of pubs that are closing, which is now something like six a week countrywide. And then there's the beer which is being brought over from the continent by the lorry loads to avoid the tax, there's far more coming over than the Government ever dreamt of, all of which effects the amount of British beer that will be drunk.

Next year Wychwood plan to bring out a different limited edition beer every month, which will all be marketed with the quirky Wychwood style which has been a feature of the brewery for some years.

"Goblins, witches and spirits abound on our labels, but for their latest brew, it's Old Father Time and his scythe that illustrate the moment," he says. Old Father Time is a limited edition Millennium ale at five per cent ABV. Chris says it has been brewed for people drinking to stop worrying about Millennium bugs, or those wanting to get over a bad case of pre-Millennium tension. It was also brewed for those who want a to enjoy a rattling good seasonal ale.

Old Father Time is priced £1.59 for a 500ml bottle, from leading supermarkets including Tesco and Safeway, as well as independent off-licences throughout Oxfordshire.

Cheers, Wychwood - thanks for giving us a superior Oxfordshire product that really will add taste to our Millennium celebrations.

Story date: Saturday 11 December

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.