National Brewing Library

The National Brewing Library consists primarily of books relating to the brewing industry, including:

A comprehensive collection of English language brewing books (dating from the 18th century to the present day), on raw materials (barley, malt, hops, sugar, water, etc.), beer production, fermentation technology, excise and gauging, product quality and sensory analysis. Books on other British alcoholic beverages - cider, whisky, wine etc. Information on ancillary and support industries -cooperage, engineering suppliers, transport, etc. Company histories, anniversary publications, house journals. · Histories of public houses, licensed trade, inn signs. The temperance movement, alcoholism, alcohol and health. Complete runs of scientific and technical journals published by The Institute of Brewing and The International Brewers' Guild, plus complete runs of major UK brewing and trade journals. Current UK and international brewing and trade journals. Information published by The Brewers' Society and Brewers and Licensed Retailers Association. A selection of European and North American technical and trade magazines. Some information on financial history and licensing law.

The Library also includes a collection of archive material accumulated by the donor institutions, including papers relating to breweries, public houses, institutions, coopers, and various other aspects of beer production.

The Institute of Brewing & Distilling (IBD) is a company and educational charity offers a range of qualifications and training for brewers and distillers and those in related industries.

Before your first visit to the Special Collections Reading Room please complete a Reading Room registration form . The form is also available from the Headington Library Enquiry Desk. Internal staff and students will be asked to show their University ID card, and external applicants should bring proof of address

Applicants are bound by the Reading Room regulations .

The Reading Room is open between 1pm and 5pm, Monday to Friday, during the University semesters (dates available here ) and researchers can visit by prior appointment outside these times; Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm. Please email us to arrange a visit or if you have any queries: libraryenquiries@brookes.ac.uk

A full online catalogue for the archival material is available.

Please use the Library Catalogue, available at www.brookes.ac.uk/library , to search for items in this collection.

In January 2001 The Institute of Brewing (founded in 1886) and The International Brewers' Guild (founded in 1906) merged to form The Institute and Guild of Brewing (now the Institute of Brewing & Distilling). At about the same time The Brewers and Licensed Retailers Association (formerly The Brewers' Society, founded in 1822) reviewed its objectives and, as The British Beer and Pub Association, moved to new premises where they could no longer house their library. Under the auspices of The Institute and Guild of Brewing, the libraries of the Institute of Brewing, The International Brewers' Guild and the technical reference library of The Brewers and Licensed Retailers Association were combined. These were supplemented further by the book collection held within the extensive Whitbread Brewing Archive, following the decision of Whitbread to sell its brewing business. These combined libraries have been brought together to form The National Brewing Library at Oxford Brookes University.

The minute books and business records of The Brewers and Licensed Retailers Association are held at the University of Warwick Modern Records Centre. Those from the Whitbread Archive are deposited at London or County Record Offices according to their geographical origin.