Our Story
From a converted garage to a Victorian ironworks. The journey of a small brewery with big ambitions.
"We didn't set out to start a brewery. We set out to make beer we actually wanted to drink."
It started in 2018, when Tom and Sarah Hartwell packed up their London lives and moved to Shropshire. Tom had been homebrewing for years -- obsessing over recipes in the evenings after long days as a chemical engineer. Sarah, a graphic designer by trade, was tired of the commute and craving something real. They found a cottage in Ironbridge with a double garage, and that garage became the first home of Ironbridge Brewing Co.
The first batch of Gorge Gold went to a local pub on a handshake deal. The landlord rang back two days later asking for more. Then another pub called. Then a farm shop. Within six months, the garage wasn't big enough. They found The Old Foundry -- a stunning Victorian ironworks building sitting empty on the banks of the Severn -- and knew immediately it was the one.
Today, we brew over 5,000 pints a week, supply more than 80 pubs and shops across the Midlands, and run a taproom that's become a destination in its own right. But the principles haven't changed: small batches, local ingredients where we can get them, and beers that we'd want to drink ourselves. Every single one.
The Journey So Far
Every great beer has a story. Here's ours.
The First Brew
Tom and Sarah Hartwell quit their London jobs, moved to Shropshire, and brewed their first batch of Gorge Gold in a converted garage.
The Old Foundry
We moved into The Old Foundry — a Victorian ironworks building on the banks of the Severn. Ten times the space, ten times the ambition.
Taproom Opens
Despite the chaos, we opened our taproom. Six taps, a wood-fired pizza oven, and a view of the Gorge. People came, and they kept coming back.
SIBA Gold
Foundry Stout won Gold at the Society of Independent Brewers Awards. Our first national recognition, and proof we were onto something.
80+ Stockists
Our beers are now stocked in over 80 pubs, restaurants, and shops across the Midlands and beyond. Still brewed right here in the Gorge.
What's Next
New fermentation tanks, a barrel-aging program, and plans for a beer garden. The best is still to come.
The People Behind the Pints
A small team with a big passion for great beer.
Tom Hartwell
Head Brewer & Co-Founder
Former chemical engineer turned brewer. Tom's obsession with flavour and precision drives every recipe we make.
Sarah Hartwell
Managing Director & Co-Founder
Sarah runs the business side — from taproom operations to distribution. She also designs every label.
Jake Morris
Assistant Brewer
Local lad, trained at Heriot-Watt. Jake brings fresh ideas and an encyclopedic knowledge of hops.
Ellie Yates
Taproom Manager
Ellie keeps the taproom buzzing. Events, live music, food pairings — if it makes people smile, she's behind it.
Come see where it all happens.
Book a brewery tour and go behind the scenes. See how we brew, taste fresh from the tank, and take home a souvenir glass.
Book a Tour