Brewing on St Helena -
Past, present and future

St Helena, a remote volcanic island in the South Atlantic, has a rich history shaped by its unique location. Discovered by the Portuguese in 1502, it was later claimed by the British in 1659. Over the centuries, it became a melting pot of cultures due to its strategic location as a shipping waypoint.

The island was initially settled by European sailors, significantly the British, who established a community that thrived on agriculture, trade and, inevitably, brewing!

The exact origins of brewing on St Helena remain a mystery, with breweries having emerged at various points throughout the island’s history. Notably, one brewery met a tragic fate when it was destroyed by fire in April 1864. Fast forward to the 1980s, Solomon’s operated The Saint Helena Brewery, which made a mark by launching Atlantic Ale, a premium pale ale, at the enticing price of 50p per pint in February 1982. Despite tax changes in 1983 aimed at making imported beer more expensive, a strategy intended to boost local sales, it ceased brewing shortly thereafter. Solomon’s brewery was housed at Scotts Mill in Francis Plain, and this is where you will find the beginning of the island’s next chapter in brewing…. St Helena Brewery!