Batemans Brewery

Batemans Brewery was founded in Lincolnshire in 1874 by George Bateman, although the family's brewing story began with his wife Susannah making beer in her kitchen for farm workers. George subsequently left farming for brewing, establishing a family business built around traditional methods and quality ingredients.

In 1880, the Bateman family moved the brewery to Salem House in Wainfleet, beside the River Steeping. Its distinctive windmill became an enduring symbol of the brewery and the site remains the home of Batemans today.

By 1960 the brewery was producing eight beers, including light and dark milds, XB bitter and several bottled ales. Triple XB, or XXXB, followed in 1977 under head brewer Ken Dixon and became one of Batemans' best-known beers, winning CAMRA's Beer of the Year at the Great British Beer Festival in 1986.

The brewery's range has continued to develop while retaining its traditional cask brewing heritage. Alongside XB and Triple XB are beers including Salem Porter and Yella Belly Gold, together with seasonal, speciality and small-batch releases.

Batemans has also experimented with contemporary beer styles through its Theatre of Beers Brewhouse, opened in 2002. The smaller brewhouse has been used for experimental beers and ranges including Salem Brew Co, allowing the brewery to explore new styles and ingredients alongside its established beers.

More than 150 years after it was established, Batemans remains an independent family brewery in Wainfleet. Successive generations have continued to invest in the brewery while maintaining its emphasis on traditional brewing, natural ingredients and what the family describes as 'Good Honest Ales'.