Wards Brewing Company

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Wards Brewing Company

Wards Brewing Company was a brewery in Sheffield, England, known for its Wards Best Bitter. It was based at Sheaf Brewery on Ecclesall Road.

History
- Beginnings: The brewery was started in 1837 by William Roper and John Kiby on Effingham Street. Roper died in 1842, leaving Kiby in charge, and he was joined by George Wright in 1860.
- S. H. Ward era: Septimus Henry Ward joined the business in 1868 as it faced financial trouble. The main beer was renamed Wards Best Bitter. Wright left the partnership a year later. The company expanded by buying other breweries and pubs. In 1876 it bought the Soho Brewery and turned it into its main site, renaming it Sheaf Brewery. It became S. H. Wards & Company Limited in 1896. The company continued to grow by acquiring pubs, though World War II slowed expansion. The brewery was damaged by incendiary bombs in 1940, killing four workers, but recovered after the war and continued to restore pubs.
- Demise: In 1972, Vaux & Associated Breweries bought Wards and kept brewing bitter as a subsidiary. Although profitable, the brewery closed in 1999 as Vaux was broken up after a takeover. The Nicholson family (Vaux’s founders) attempted a management buyout, which was not accepted. On the final day, staff held an informal celebration, and the last days included various anecdotes about staff and officers. The land was sold for development of luxury apartments.
- Resurrection: The Wards brand was bought by the Double Maxim Beer Company in 2003 and is run as Wards Brewing Company. Bottled beer was revived (brewed again by Robinson’s of Stockport) and cask beer was reintroduced (brewed by Jennings of Cockermouth). Today, Maxim brews all variants, though the branding still states Wards Brewery Sheffield.

Brands
- Wards Best Bitter (bottled, 4.5% ABV)
- Wards Best Bitter (cask, 4% ABV)
- Wards 1840 (4.5% ABV)

In short, Wards started in the 1830s, grew through pubs and acquisitions, declined and closed in 1999, and was revived in 2003 under Double Maxim, with its beers still marketed under the Wards name.