Cumbrian Breweries

Abraham Thompson

Abraham Thompson, opened 2004 by Brewer John Mulholland 1/2 barrel plant

Regular beers are Lickerish Stout and Porter

Barngates

Opened 1997 Brewer John Lloyd & Chris Williams, a 5 barrel plant situated behind the Drunken Duck Inn in Barngates near Ambleside.(See article in What Ales Autumn 2004)

Regular beers are Cat Nap, Cracker Ale, Tag Lag and Chester’s Strong and Ugly

Beckstones

A 5 barrel plant located in an 18th century mill at the Green, Millom, using the kit from the High Force Brewery. Opened 2003 Brewer Dave Taylor.

Regular beers are Leat, Bitta Clout, Iron Town, Border Steeans, Haematite.

Demand for these wonderful beers is very high and Dave sometimes finds it difficult to meet it!

Beckstones now have a brewery tap! The Punchbowl at the Green, a mile or four outside Millom.

Bitter End

Mike and Sue Askey left their previous pub, where they had made a success of running the first of Jennings managed houses to take guest beers, to run their own in 1995. The Bitter End, called because it is close to the end of the Bitter Beck in Cockermouth, brews in a small neat brewing room which is separated from the rear of the lounge by glass, and produces Cocker Snoot, and occasional specials. Latest American brew plant installed in 2004

Regular beers are Farmers Ale, Cockermouth Pride, Cuddy Lugs

Cock Robin Cider

Happy Apple cider produced by Robin Barton in Abbeytown

Coniston

Since Coniston's wonderful Bluebird Bitter won Champion Beer of Britain in 1998, the brewery has been pushed to keep up with demand and has gone from strength to strength, now brewing 30 barrels a week. This 10 barrel plant, (Brewer Ian Bradley)opened in 1995, is at the back of the Black Bull pub, Coniston

Regular beers are Bluebird, Opium, Bluebird XB, Old Man Ale

Cumbria Legendary Ales

Old Hall Brewery, Hawkshead, Ambleside. First brewed in May 2006. A 10 barrel plant is used.

Dent

The brewery, set up in 1990 in a converted barn, and using water from its own spring, has also gone from strength to strength.

Regular beers are Bitter, Aviator, Ramsbottom, Kamikaze, T’owd Tup + many seasonals.

Derwent

The Derwent Brewery, at the Station Road Industrial Estate, in Silloth, opened in 1996, and is a 5 barrel plant run by Frank Smith, (a former head brewer of Jennings Brewery, Cockermouth and of Broughton Brewery) and Hans Kruger. A specialty of the brewery is using recipes from long gone Cumbrian Brewers.

Regular beers are Carlisle State Bitter, Parson’s Pledge, Whitwell Marks IPA and Auld Kendal

Foxfield

Stuart and Lynda Johnson, having great success at the Tigertops Brewery in Wakefield, set up a 3 barrel plant in stables at the back of the Prince of Wales pub, where they brew a number of interesting ales, and sell several guest beers, too.

Regular beers include variations on the themes of Sands, Fleur-de-lys, Brief Encounter

Geltsdale

Geltsdale Brewery, Craw Hall, Brampton, was started up by Solway branch CAMRA member, Fiona Deal, in November 2006 in Brampton and its first beer was for tasting in December 2006. Geltsdale is the name of a forest covered mountain area south of Brampton. So far: King's Forest, (3.8%), Tarnmonath (4.0%), Time-honoured (4.0%) Hell Beck Ruby Ale ABV (4.2%) and Black Dub ABV (3.6%)

A few more details about the beers here.

Great Gable

The Wasdale Head Inn, in remote Wasdale, under the shadow of Great Gable, opened its in-house, 10 barrel brewery in 2002 under brewer Giles Holiday,and is now producing a range of 7 interesting beers:

First beers were the ever popular Great Gable Bitter - a refreshing 3.4% session beer which is just right for thirsty walkers after a day's climbing; and the stronger Wasd'Ale.

Lingmell. is the newest regular beer and a special called 'Award' has been available to mark the Pub of the Year 2006 award.

The brewery are now bottling their own beers. Other regular beers are Burnmoor Pale, Scawfell, Illgill IPA, Yewbarrow

Hardknott

This brewery has its home in the Woolpack Inn, Eskdale. First brews were: A strong, dark, malty, delicately hopped beer called Tenacity, at 5%, and a dark mild called Black Sail, at 2.8%. Further brews have taken place, the latest being Colonial Breakfast at 5.4%.

Hawkshead (2 breweries)

A 7 barrel brewery set up in 2002 in a restored 17th century barn at Town End, Hawkshead near Ambleside by Alex Brodie, using plant from Border Brewery, producing some stunning beers. Regular beers are Bitter, Red, Lakeland Gold and Brodie's Prime. UPA is a seasonal.

2006 saw the building of additional premises with a 20 barrel plant at Staveley to cope with increased demand. Mainstay beers are produced there now, whilst the original premises are used for craft and special beers. There is also a superb beer hall there, for sampling, open afternoons and early evenings.

Hesket Newmarket

Hesket Newmarket Brewery is in a barn at the back of the Old Crown Inn (Cumbria Pub of the Year 2001) and all brews (except Doris' 90th Birthday Ale) are named after local fells. The brewery, opened in 1988 (Brewer Mike Parker) is a 4 barrel plant is now owned by a village cooperative.

Regular beers are Great Cockup Porter, Blencathra Bitter, Skiddaw Special Bitter, Helvellyn Gold, Doris’s 90th Birthday Ale, Catbells Pale Ale, Old Carrock Strong Ale and the new Sca Fell

Jennings

Opened in 1828 as Jennings Brothers, but now owned by Marston's, the Castle brewery in Cockermouth is the largest, (150 barrel brew length) brewery in Cumbria, and is part of one of the largest brewery companies in the country. Jennings, as it was, under former brewer, Peter Laws, had a portfolio of 12 first class beers, the most commonly available being the tawny coloured, richly malty, Jennings Bitter. The paler, hoppier, Cumberland Ale is popular and now very widely available, being marketed by Marston's Brewery as a flagship brand. Regular beers are Dark Mild, Bitter, Cumberland Ale, Cocker Hoop, Snecklifter. Currently, a repeat of last year's popular spring beer - Golden Host is on many bars. But are all the others still being produced under Marstons?

Keswick Brewing Co

The Keswick Brewing Company was established by Phil and Sue Harrison during Spring 2006. The brewery is located on the site of a brewery which closed in 1897, at The Old Brewery on Brewery Lane in Keswick. The 10 barrel brewery has been set up with quality and environmental issues at it’s heart. They are pleased to have been awarded the CBEN Bronze environmental award.
Regular beers - Thirst Rescue 3.7%, Thirst Pitch 3.8%, Thirst Ascent 4%, Thirst Run 4.2% and Thirst Fall 4.8%. Seasonal and Specials are also available throughout the year.
A range of the regular beers are now available in bottles. Thirst Celebration, a 7% India Pale Ale has also been bottled and has been very well received.
Brewery Tours are available. Please ring to find out opening times or to book a tour.
Contact Sue and Phil Harrison

info@keswickbrewery.co.uk

www.keswickbrewery.co.uk

Loweswater

Opened 2003 with Brewer Matt Webster this is a 2-barrel plant at the Kirkstile Inn, (West Cumbria's Pub of the Year 2003 and 2004),

Newest beer, Kirkstile Gold, is so popular they can't keep up with demand!

Nor find space for all the awards it's winning!

Other regular beers are Melbreak Bitter, Grasmoor Dark Ale, Rannerdale Best

Kirkstile is now bottling their own beers

Solway Cider

A new cider producing business run by Garry Parsons & Don Stevenson

Garry, a keen Climber & Fellwalker, moved to Cumbria in the Spring 2004 from Bristol. A keen cider drinker and CAMRA member, he tried most of the local brews but yearned for the taste of home: CIDER! Planned from the summer of 2004, it wasn't until the winter of 2005 that he contacted a friend, cidermaker, John, in Somerset, to ask if he could make some cider there, using his apples and equipment, and so Solway Cider was born.

Don (a climbing buddy of Garry's) moved to Port Carlisle in 2005 and agreed to join forces and help with the business. They plan to get some land and plant an orchard of their own, to buy their own cider press this year and then make a limited quantity of cider, using only Cumbrian apples.

The Brickyard in Carlisle is currently selling - Solway Cider's DOG Rough 7% and other pubs are showing interest. Contact Don 079633 05036

Strands

This brewery is located in an ex-stable building at the back of the Strands Hotel in Nether Wasdale. Brewer, Mark Corr, who moved to the hotel last June with wife, Lesley, got his kit, most of which came from Saddleworth Brewery, almost immediately but didn't get started on brewing until Early February. The first beer is Errmmm 3.8% (at Wast It's here) and is a light, hoppy session beer, full of character - a great start!

Tirril

Opened 1999 by brewer, Chris Tomlinson this 10 barrel plant was originally situated in the Queen’s Head Tirril, but is now located at close by Brougham Hall

Regular beers are Bewsher’s Best Bitter, Brougham Ale, Old Faithful, 1823, Academy Ale

Ulverston

Awaiting information

Watermill, Ings

The new brewery, which can be seen from inside the pub, is now in production

Yates

Ex Jennings head brewer, Peter Yates, and his wife Carol, set up this 11 barrel plant in a converted barn at Ghyll Farm in Westnewton, north Cumbria in 1986. Ready to retire in 1998, they sold it to Graeme and Caroline Baxter, who had previously owned the High Force Brewery in Teesdale. The beer range has been continued and extended, and may be found in many independent outlets. Since the loss of independence of Jennings, Yates seems now to be the largest independent in Cumbria!!

Regular beers are Bitter, Fever Pitch, Sun Goddess + seasonal beers

In 2006, Graeme focused on producing specials in a range of brewing styles. First was been Genius, a strong, dark stout, followed by IPA and Bees Knees. There was also a rich dark special for Hallowe'en called something about Ghouls! Newest is Mad March Hare 4.3%

Watch out for these!

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