Working off the beach are fisherman whose families have fished here for generations, their fishing boats are still launched from the beach to put out to sea and winched back on to the shore on their return.

Although Beer was first and foremost a fishing village, many of the past residents of Beer were Quarrymen engaged in the quarrying of the famous Beer Limestone.

Quarrying started with the coming of the Romans who founded their most westerly outpost in Exeter. Beer became a rich source of the lime stone the Romans needed for the construction of their most important buildings.

The seam of limestone can readily be seen at low tide on the western side of the beach at the foot of the cliffs. Just above the shingle is a layer of greensand stone and above that is a narrow band of creamy coloured limestone.

Beer limestone has been used in many fine buildings locally, the most well known being Exeter Cathedral.

Other famous buildings which have used Beer stone in their construction are Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London and London Bridge.