Stocking Filler 4.5% ABV  See the label
Brewed using 100% Boadicea hops this beer has a delicate fruity flavour, strong but subtle for its strength.

H.E.Brew 5.0% ABV  See the label
This dark brooding winter brew is full of complex tastes such as chocolate and raisins. It has a roast finish and yet is deceptively smooth, making it a most quaffable beer for its strength. 


The Rother Valley Brewing Company

The brewery was formed in 1993 by Martin Christoff an ex Landlord from Tunbridge Wells, Kent and John Cyster a farmer from Northiam, East Sussex who had a passion for hops. Martin Christoff left in 2002 and sadly John Cyster died in 2005.

By this time the business had been joined by Stephen Leman, in an accountancy advisory capacity, and Colin Smith as an assistant brewer. Stephen and Colin now operate the brewery in partnership today. Together with Carol Loates as Sales Executive the staff numbers three! The passion for only using locally grown hops continues with only those harvested in Northiam and the nearby village of Sandhurst being used.

The brewery nestles amongst farm buildings surrounded by traditional hop gardens literally just a stone’s throw away from the Kent / East Sussex border along which the picturesque Kent & East Sussex Railway runs steam and heritage trains for almost 200 days per year.

Hops have been grown along the River Rother Valley for generations and were added to the brewing process to allow the beer to be kept longer and to impart bitterness to the flavour. The Guinness Hop Farms centered on Bodiam only three miles upstream were the largest in the country. At the peak of production 850 acres were under hops.

Special trains were run from London, usually London Bridge, to bring the hop-pickers and their families to the hop gardens. The pickers, mainly women and children and their elderly relatives, spent several weeks from early September into October in the country and this usually formed their annual holiday.

With Bodiam being at the heart of the Rother Valley hop industry it was natural that the Kent & East Sussex Railway should transport pickers to the hop gardens and about 4000 pickers supplemented the work force of about 100 men each year.

The brewery houses a 10 barrel plant which in turn produces 20 barrels a week. It must be clarified that these are brewer’s barrels and at 36 gallons a time are substantially larger than the tubs that we are used to seeing in our local!

The first beer produced was that of “Level Best”, brewed to a recipe which is largely unchanged today. Including seasonal offerings the RVBC offers a dozen standard brews.

RVBC beers are currently sold in 50 regular outlets from Canterbury to Faversham and as far west as Brighton. Stephen is proud of the brewery’s close working relationship with their customers and is delighted to be able to reach a new audience of real ale drinkers in this latest collaboration with Ale & Arty Ltd.