There are ten breweries situated in the Keighley and Craven Branch area, with an eleventh in the pipeline, all of which concentrate on brewing real ale. Click on the appropriate link below.
Tel: (01535) 656797
The Barley Bottom Brewery opened in Silsden in Spring 2012. Based at the Homebrew supplies shop of the same name, the brewery has already produced several beers since opening. The current range is Cobbydale Bitter 4%, Cobbydale Blonde 4%, Cobbydale Gold 4%, Golden Cascade 4%, Clogg Dancer 4%. An occasional stout and other bespoke beers are produced to order. Outlets for the beers have included: The Kings Arms, Silsden; The Station Hotel, Harecroft; Off The Tap, Bingley
July 2012
Bridgehouse Brewery Ltd., Hawkcliffe Works, Hebden Rd., Oxenhope, W. Yorks., BD22 9SY
Tel: (01535) 642893
Email: info@bridgehousebrewery.co.uk
The Bridgehouse Brewery opened in Keighley in March 2010 with an Open Day, featuring the breweries 5 beers, which, at the time, were 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. The brewery has since moved up the Worth valley to Oxenhope. The current beer range is Diken Gold 3.6%, Mellow Yellow 3.8%, Stokers Bitter 3.9%, Tyke Bitter 4.1%, Barnstormer Pale 4.4%, Heathcliff Stout 5.0%, Moorland Bitter 5.2%. Look out for the beers in the Airedale Heifer in Sandbeds, Riddlesden and local freehouses.
July 2011
Copper 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%); Challenger(ABV 4%); Scotts 1816 (ABV 4.1%);
A new 4% beer was brewed in February 2010 called Freddie Trueman ale. This was brewed throughout 2010 until December, when a one-off Christmas beer appeared. Freddie Truman was resurrected as a seasonal beer in March 2011 and was sold in some parts of the country as ‘Owzat’. Freddie was replaced in May by Conqueror (3.6%). Summer Creek (3.8%) appeared as a ‘one-off’ in August 2011 and proved popular at Keighley Beer Festival 2011. Firedancer is expected to appear in the Autumn.
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 October 2011
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 brewery has a 15-barrel plant, although normal brew-length is 10 barrels. Up to 3 brews are done each week.
The first beer, a mid-brown bitter at 3.8%, called simply ‘Hetton Best Bitter‘, appeared in Summer 2008. This was followed by ‘Hetton Pale Ale‘ (4.2%), and the stronger ‘Whipcracker‘ (5%), which is no longer brewed. Hetton Pale Ale is currently the main beer produced. It can be found in a number of pubs locally including the the Craven, Appleteewick, the Angel, Hetton and the Grassington House Hotel, Grassington and is also sold in bottled form. Best Bitter is also still produced regularly.
Beers are brewed on an occasional basis under a surrogate brand known as Dales Ales for distribution by Waverley TBS on a guest basis under their monthly Total Cask scheme. Golden Daffodil (4.2%) and Old Chestnut (4.5%) have appeared to date. A special one-off beer is being brewed for Grassington Festival in 2013, which should be available during the festival in the Grassington House Hotel, the Devonshire and the Foresters Arms
Current January 2012
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); Goose Eye Bitter; 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 has recently been selling a house beer from Goose Eye.
Current January 2011
Haworth Steam Brewing Company, Haworth, W. Yorks.
Tel: (01535) 646212
Email: haworthsteambrew@gmail.com
Haworth Steam Brewery launched their first beer, a blonde ale named Austerity, at the White Lion in Haworth during the 1940s weekend in Spring 2011. The beer range is True Tyke, 3.8%, an amber ale; Ironclad 957, 4.3%, a dark stout named after a locomotive used on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway; Austerity, 3.8%, a blonde ale named after another KWVR locomotive; Fallwood XXXX, 5.2%, a strong ale (Fallwoods brewery operated in Haworth in the late 1800s); Steam Bier, 4.6%, a continental style lager only available in bottles. Bottled versions of the beers are available in Gascoigne‘s Smoke House, Delicatessen and Café on Haworth Main Street. The beers are often available in the Buffet Car on the Keighley and Worth Valley railway.
Current July 18th 2011
The brewery is situated behind The Queens Arms in Litton. After several changes over recent years, the current brewer is Thomas Crapper, who in March and April 2011 spent 6 weeks at Brew Dog on a internship. Since Tom arrived, he has brewed once a month. So far Litton Ale, Goldcrest and Leading Light have been produced. Eventually all five of the regular ales previously available shouild be produced, some with slightly different recipes. Initially the beer will only be available on draught at the Queens Arms where it is dispensed alongside a guest beer and tetley Bitter. The beer should become more widely available locally as the number of brews per month increases. 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.
Current August 2011
Naylors
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: Aire Valley Bitter (AVB) (3.7% ABV), Velvet (4% 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 Brewery,
Unit 1, Aireworth Mills
Aireworth Road
Keighley, BD21 4DH
The Old Bear Brewery was established in 1993. A family business, it is now located in a 19th-century textile mill on Aireworth Road, Keighley. Owner/head brewer, Ian Cowling, is fiercely proud of his Yorkshire roots as witnessed by the brewery‘s “No Codswallop” tag line. The regular cask beers from the 10-barrel plant are available nationally and are occasionally supplemented by seasonals and specials including the renowned Duke of Brontë which claims to be Yorkshire‘s strongest cask ale. Beers are available in bottle-conditioned form using bottles from sister company Bottle Rescue, a community venture which offers learning disability placements in bottling and bottle recycling.
Current May 2013
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 2004, when Andy sold the pub and moved to Scotland. Andy now runs Gascoign‘s Smokehouse, Delicatessen and Café on Main Street, Haworth - see Haworth Steam Brewery above.(18/07/2011)
Settle Brewery.
Unit 8, The Sidings
Settle
BD24 9RP
Telephone 01729 824936.
Beers: Signal Light (3.4%); Mainline (4%). Settle also produce the following beers for Nine Standards Brewery in Kirkby Stephen: Original Standard (3.7%); Gold Standard (4.1%); Silver Standard (4.3%); Double Standard (4.7%); Royal Standard (5.5%).
Settle Brewery is located in a small industrial unit adjacent to Settle Railway station. Brewing started in January 2013 using a new 12-barrel Johnsons kit and the first beers went on sale in mid February. Brewer Ian Simkins originally brewed at Nine Standards, and transferred to Settle when production moved south. Regular outlets locally include the Talbot in Settle, the Craven (adjacent to Giggleswick railway station on the Settle bypass) and the Croglin Castle, Kirkby Stephen. Other outlets across Cumbria, the Yorkshire Dales, West Yorkshire and North Lancashire take the beers on a regular basis.
Current April 2013.
Three Peaks Brewery.
7 Craven Terrace
Settle
BD24 9DB
Telephone 01729 822939.
Beers: Pen-y-ghent bitter (3.8%); Ingleborough Gold (4%).
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. Only a single beer, Pen-y-Ghent, was brewed originaly on the 1 ¼ barrel plant, then in June 2011 the second beer was launched. Ingleborough Gold has an ABV of 4% and uses a combination of First Gold, Brewers Gold and Golding hops. Regular outlets for Three Peaks include Thirteen Cafe Bar in Settle, the Helwith Bridge Inn in Ribblesdale and the Greyhound in Barnsoldswick.
Current July 2011.
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 July 2011
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.
The
details below have been left for historical purposes. The web-site link is to the Cricketers Arms, Keighley which trades as Worth Inns and is still run by the Mitchell family who ran the brewery.
Regular Beers were: 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. Sadly the Brewery Arms is now closed.