by Chris de Cordova
West Cumbria CAMRA
updated 15th April, 2006
accuracy not guaranteed!

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. (see article in What Ales Spring 2004)
Regular beers are Leat, Bitta Clout, Iron Town, Border Steeans, Hematite

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. (See Article in What Ales). Latest American brew plant installed in 2004
Regular beers are Farmers Ale, Cockermouth Pride, Cuddy Lugs

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. (See article from What Ales, Summer 2004) 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

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. Their own distribution company, Flying Firkin, supplies pubs, clubs and festivals all over the north. This 7 barrel plant is currently closed for upgrading under new ownership
Regular beers are Bitter, Aviator, Ramsbottom, Kamikaze, T’owd Tup + many seasonal. See article from What Ales, Autumn 2005

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. See article from Spring 2003 What Ales
Regular beers include variations on the themes of Sands, Fleur-de-lys, Brief Encounter

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 interesting beers: Great Gable Bitter - a refreshing 3.4% session beer which is just right for thirsty walkers after a day's climbing; the stronger Wasd'Ale, and other special occasion beers. (see Article in What Ales)
Regular beers are Great Gable, Burnmoor Pale, Wasd’ale, Scawfell, Illgill IPA, Yewbarrow

Hardknott
A new brewery set up 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 supplying Fylde and Carisle Beer Festivals. See Article in Spring 2006 What Ales

Hawkshead
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. See article from Autumn 2003 What Ales Regular beers are Bitter, Red, Lakeland Gold and Brodie's Prime. UPA is a seasonal. New news (April 2006) is the building of additional premises with a 20 barrel plant at Staveley to cope with increased demand. See website (link on the left) for fuller details.

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. (See Article in What Ales, Summer 2003)
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
Now owned by Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries, Jennings Castle brewery, Cockermouth is the largest, (150 barrel brew length) brewery in Cumbria, opened in 1828 and now owned by Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries. Jennings, (head brewer: Peter Law) has portfolio of 12 first class beers, the most commonly available being the tawny coloured, malty, Jennings Bitter.

The paler, fruitier Cumberland Ale is very popular and widely available. A good variety of seasonal and special occasion beers are also produced, currently a repeat of last year's popular spring beer, Golden Host is on many bars.
Regular beers are Dark Mild, Bitter, Cumberland Ale, Cocker Hoop, Snecklifter.

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), (see more...).
Melbreak Bitter was Whitehaven's Beer of the Festival 2004 and the festival special (Haven Pride) brewed here was the first beer at the festival to sell out.
Regular beers are Melbreak Bitter, Grasmoor Dark Ale, Rannerdale Best

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

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(See Article from What Ales)
Regular beers are Bewsher’s Best Bitter, Brougham Ale, Old Faithful, 1823, Academy Ale

Ulverston
Awaiting information

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