Keighley and Craven Breweries

There are eight breweries situated in the Keighley and Craven Branch area, with a ninth in the pipeline, all of which concentrate on brewing real ale. Click on the appropriate link below.

Bridgehouse Brewery

The Bridgehouse Brewery opened in late-March 2010 with an Open Day, featuring the breweries 5 beers. The brainchild of Grahame Reynoldson, Bridgehouse brewery is located off Parkwood Street, Keighley. The beer range at the Open Day was Diken Gold 3.6%, Best Bitter 3.8%, Buffers 4.0%, Barn Stormer 4.4% and Head Shunt Stout 5.0%. Members of the Branch committee who attended were impressed with the beers and the set-up. Look out for their beers in the following local outlets: The Bronte Hotel, Haworth, The Brown Cow, Cricketers and Boltmakers, Keighley, The Causeway Foot Inn, Ogden, Halifax, The Trades Club & Moyles Hotel in Hebden Bridge, The Rams Head Sowerby Bridge, The Red Rooster, Brighouse, The Harvesters, Bingley, The Red Lion, Burley In Wharfedale, Shipley Catholic Club, The Milners Arms, Undercliffe, Bradford and The Old Manor House, Clapham, North Yorkshire.

March 2010

Copper Dragon

Copper Dragon LogoCopper Dragon Skipton Brewery Ltd., Snaygill Industrial Estate, Keighley Rd., Skipton, N. Yorks., BD23 2QR

Tel: (01756) 702130 Fax: (01756) 702136

Email: sales@copperdragon.uk.com

Regular Beers: Black Gold (ABV 3.7%); Best Bitter (ABV 3.8%); Golden Pippin (ABV 3.9%); Scotts 1816 (ABV 4.1%); Challenger IPA (ABV 4.4%).

A new 4% beer was brewed in February 2010 called Freddie Trueman ale. If this goes well it will be continued. Freddie Truman ale has been available in, amongst other outlets, the Cross Keys, East Marton and in the bistro at the Brewery.

Since starting Copper Dragon have acquired a small number of pubs across Yorkshire and Lancashire and following their move to a larger site next door to the original one, a new visitor centre with bar and bistro opened in Autumn 2008.

For more information go to Copper Dragon's website on www.copperdragon.uk.com. E-mail on sales@copperdragon.uk.com

Current March 2010

Dark Horse

Formerly the Wharfedale brewery near Hetton, the business was bought in 2008 by Richard Eyton-Jones. Richard has extensive brewing pedigree which began at the original Goose eye brewery based at Goose eye, Keighley. The first beer, a mid-brown bitter at 3.8% called simply 'Hetton Best Bitter' appeared in Summer 2008 and was available at the Tempest Arms, Elslack and the Craven Arms, Appletreewick. This was followed by Hetton Pale Ale (4.2%), and the stronger 'Whipcracker' (5%). All three beers were available at Keighley Beer, Cider and Perry festival 2008. The Hetton Pale Ale is currently the main beer produced and can be found in a number of pubs locally including the Tempest Arms, Elslack, the Craven, Appleteewick, the Bull, Broughton, the Angel, Hetton and the Fountaine, Linton. Richard hopes to produce a re-vamped Best Bitter with a more traditional West Riding bitterness soon.

Current July 2009

Goose Eye

Goose Eye Brewery
Ingrow Bridge
South Street
Keighley
West Yorkshire BD21 5AX

Tel: 01535 605807 Fax: 01535 605735

Regular Beers: Barmpot Bitter (ABV 3.8); Bronte (ABV 4.0); Wharfedale Ale (ABV 4.5); Pommies Revenge (ABV 5.2); No-Eyed Deer (ABV 4.0); Chinook (ABV 4.2)

Regular outlets locally: Friendly Inn, Stanbury; Elm Tree, Embsay, near Skipton; Turkey, Goose Eye; Snooty Fox, Oakworth; Waggon and Horses, Oxenhope; Narrow Boat, Skipton; The Crown, Addingham and the Hare and Hounds, Lothersdale have recently been selling a house beer from Goose Eye.

Current March 2010

Litton

The Queens changed hands in late May 2009 with Dean Walls and Nikki Holland taking on a lease from the owner Doug Goldie. Dean has re-started the brewery, and hopes eventually to produce the five regular ales previously available, some with slightly different recipes. So far Litton Ale, Goldcrest and Leading Light have been produced. Initially the beer will only be available on draught at the Queens Arms where two are dispensed alongside a guest beer. Once Dean is happy with the quality, it may become more widely available locally. Beers: Litton Ale: Pale brown in colour with a classic malt flavour. 3.8% abv. Potts Beck: Darker brown in colour with a rich, toasted malt taste. 4.2% abv. Leading Light: A pale amber colour with a drier finish. Great for summer! 3.8% abv. Gold Crest: A pale beer with a smooth, creamy head. Hoppy & fruity. 3.9% abv. Dark Star: A deep ruby colour with a smooth, rich, clean flavour. 4.0% abv. although Dean has plans to make it a bit stringer.

Current July 7th 2009

Naylor's

Naylor's logoNaylor's started brewing next to the Old White Bear, Cross Hills, in February 2005. In November 2006 the expanding brewery moved to larger premises at Midland Mills, still in Crosshills village. Beers: PINNACLE MILD (3.6% ABV), PINNACLE BITTER (3.9% ABV), PINNACLE PALE ALE (3.6% ABV), PINNACLE BLONDE (4.3% ABV) and PINNACLE PORTER (4.8% ABV) are brewed regularly along with monthly specials and other occasional brews. Naylors beers are no longer available in bottle-conditioned form with the exception of Pinnacle Porter. In 2009 a beer-shop opened on the premises under the name of Naylors Beer Emporium. The shop sells a wide range of bottle beers, not just from Naylors, and is open during normal brewery hours. Cask beer is sometimes also available in the shop, which additionally opens most Friday evenings (phone the brewery to check before travelling).

Current March 2010

Old Bear

Old Bear BreweryOld Bear Brewery,
Pitt Street,
Keighley

The Old Bear Brewery moved to Pitt Street, Keighley from The Old White Bear, Cross Hills in January 2005.   The 'No Codswallop' image on their Point of Sale material highlights Ian Cowling the owner/head brewers fierce pride of Yorkshire and particularly Keighley.  The regular beers from the 10 barrel plant are regularly supplemented by seasonal and specials which can be produced on their one barrel plant.  During 2006 the brewery has also produced Bottle Conditioned Ales which are accredited by the CAMRA Real Ale in a Bottle  scheme. The brewery is in the process of moving to larger premises during February and March 2010

Meet the brewer - an interview with Ian Cowling.

Current March 2010


Oxenhope Moorland (ceased brewing 16 Sep 04)

Brewer Andy Gascoigne from the Oxenhope Moorland Brewery at the Waggon & Horses reckoned that, at 1405 feet above sea level, his brewery was the highest in Britain (any comments?). Regular beers were Oxenhope Best Bitter (3.6%), Moortop Gold (4.5%) and Old Tosser (5%), in Winter only. The brewery closed in September 04, when Andy sold the pub and moved to Scotland. Andy now runs the Oyster Bar and Brewery at Ellanabeich on the Island of Seil, about 15 miles South of Oban.(3/8/03)

Three Peaks

Three Peaks Brewery logoThree Peaks Brewery.
7 Craven Terrace
Settle
BD24 9DB
Telephone 01729 822939.

Beer: Pen-y-ghent bitter (3.8%).  

Formed in November 2006 the Three Peaks Brewery is run by husband and wife team Colin and Susan Ashwell. The brewery is located in the cellar of their home. One beer is brewed at present on their 1 ¼ barrel plant. Regular outlets include Thirteen Cafe Bar in Settle and the Helwith Bridge Inn in Ribblesdale.

Current March 2010.

Timothy Taylors

Timothy Taylors Brewery

Timothy Taylor & Co. Ltd.,
Knowle Spring Brewery,
Keighley,
West Yorkshire
BD21 1AW

Tel: 01535 603139; Fax: 01535 691167

Regular Beers: Golden Best (ABV 3.5); Dark Mild (ABV 3.5); Best Bitter (ABV 4.0); Landlord (ABV 4.3); Ram Tam (ABV 4.3)

Bottled Beers: Landlord is bottled and is widely available in supermarkets and off-licenses.

Special brews: Timothy Taylor do not generally brew seasonal or special beers. However, Spring 2002 saw the launch of a special cask ale to celebrate the 300th Anniversary Duke of Wellington's Regiment. Called 'Havercake Ale', the 4.7% beer was available in pubs in the area in which the regiment formerly recruited i.e. in the West Riding of Yorkshire between Sheffield and Settle. Havercake has been brewed occasionally since. The company celebrated its 150th year in 2008 with further brews of Havercake, and also a limited edition 5% brew "Celebration ale" - a rich, sweet, full bodied malty ale which impressed many.

Current February 2009

Turkey

Turkey Brewery, The Turkey Inn, Goose Eye, Oakworth, Keighley, West Yorkshire

The brewing plant was located at the rear of the Turkey Inn. The pub and brewery were sold in early 2008 and the brewing plant has since been sold on.

Worth (Ceased brewing February 2000)

Worth Brewery logoThe details below have been left for historical purposes. The web-site link may still be active - please note that the information there is quite old! (If the links fail, please email me so that I can take them out.) Worth Brewery, Worth Way, Keighley, West Yorkshire BD21 5LP. Tel: N/A; Email: N/A

Regular Beers: Alesman Bitter (ABV 3.7), Worth Best Bitter (ABV 4.5)

Seasonal/Occasional Beers: Beckside Mild (ABV 3.6), Nearys Stout (ABV 4.0), Knobwilter Wheat Beer (Summer ABV 5.2), Old Toss (ABV 6.5); Ruggies Russet Nectar (Autumn - ABV 7.8); Santas Toss (Winter - ABV 8.0)

Pubs: Worth Brewery had two tied pubs, the Brewery Arms and the Cricketers Arms - both in Keighley.