Exmoor Ales

The brewery behind Exmoor Gold turned forty-five in 2026 in remarkable shape considering it nearly died the year before: when the old Golden Hill site closed in 2025, a rescue built around the new Exmoor Drinks company — with Surrey's independent Hogs Back Brewery taking a forty per cent stake — moved the operation into Wiveliscombe's former Cotleigh brewery and saved ten local jobs. The arrangement is stated plainly rather than hidden: the core cask beers are brewed under licence at Hogs Back, while the Wiveliscombe brewhouse makes the specials under Shaun Vockins, Cotleigh's former head brewer. The shop sells bottles and draught in refillable flagons on weekday daytimes, and there is a taproom besides. New branding arrived in May 2026, sales rising with it.