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Beer is big in the Isle of Wight, and one brewery that consistently wins awards is the small but perfectly formed Goddards, housed in 18th-century barns at Ryde. Founded by Anthony Goddard, who was originally a vintner producing distinctive wines at Barton Manor Vineyard in East Cowes, and in a former life an underwriter at Lloyds, the company produces such mouthwatering delights as Fuggle-Dee-Dum, an intensely flavoured, malty, hoppy, ale, and Duck’s Folly, an amber-coloured nectar.
 For the independent brewer, a major problem is getting the beers into the pubs, but Goddards successfully sells to mainland outlets, while steadily increasing its Island sales. “We hope to double our output in 2008,” says Anthony.
If you’re asked to try Molly Downer while visiting the Island, don‘t be alarmed—it’s just one of the special ales created by Ventnor Brewery, alongside other monthly specials such as Jazz Diva, Hooray Henry and Druid Fluid. Although the current brewery only opened in 2001, the original (trading under Burt & Co) dates back to the 19th century. Early records state that it had an agreement with the Ventnor Water Company to supply them with spring water from the chalky downs above the town.
Despite changes of ownership over time, the original recipe, using the firm’s own yeast strain, malt, hops, and St Boniface spring water, continues to provide the distinct Ventnor ales, plus a growing list of seasonal specials. At 5.6%, the smoky Sandrock Ale is a firm favourite—but should be approached cautiously!
Over at Yates’ Brewery, in the grounds of The Inn at St Lawrence, Ventnor, father-and-son team David Yates senior and junior are turning out hugely successful ales. Their flagship bitter, Undercliff Experience, is an amber ale with a bittersweet malt and hop taste, and their Yates Special Draft took the bronze in 2007 at the Guardian/Camra bottled beer category at the Great British Beer Festival. Many of these beers can be enjoyed at watering holes across the Island—keep an eye out for them.
If you’re looking for a special gourmet present with an alcoholic kick, make for the Cider Barn in Godshill High Street. Local cider is sold in old-fashioned stone bottles that hark back to smock-coated apple pickers of yore, and you can also pick up attractively packaged mustards, vinegars, and traditional ginger beer.
What better accompaniment to a tipple than cheese? The fledgling Isle of Wight Cheese Company, which started production in late 2006, is going from strength to strength as people appreciate the quality in the company’s unpasteurised, roulade-style lactic cheese, the Isle of Wight blue cheese, a semi-hard mellow variety similar to a Cheshire, and a medium-strength cheddar made from the milk of Guernsey cows. Perfect gifts for a foodie friend, the cheeses are available at good delicatessens and the Farmers’ Markets in Newport every Friday and Ryde every Saturday. |