In 1994 Tom Wood was desperate to return to the farm where he grew up and work with his brothers. Unfortunately the economics of the farming business meant that it was difficult for him to effectively join the family business and it seemed that there was no way that he could effectively contribute. The only way to work with his brothers was to set up another business. At the farm there was a disused Victorian barn and it was here that Tom decided that he could start a business brewing beer.
Tom was taught how to brew by David Smith, an ex brewer for Sam Smiths in Tadcaster, Yorkshire and the barn was transformed into the brewery. The first pint was produced in February 1995.

Tom initially thought that he would produce beer one or two days of the week and then would deliver and collect orders on the other days. The beer has been so successful that in addition to the help that he gets from his brothers there are ten people employed at the brewery.

It is worth noting that the water used is drawn from a well under the farm, the malt used is produced in a traditional "flat floor" malt house and the hops are always English grown whole hops. No Oils or extracts are used. A pint of Tom Wood is as traditionally produced as possible. In 1998 Tom's brother David took the project further by reopening a derelict pub called "The Butcher's Arms" in his home village of North Kelsey. Here you will always be able to find at least three of Tom's brews available. On 28th August 1999 Tom Wood's "Jolly Ploughman" Bottled Ale was launched into Tesco Brigg in Lincolnshire. Since then the product has gone from strength to strength.