Coniston Brewing Company

Image thanks to Coniston Brewery

Tucked away behind the Black Bull in Coniston, the Coniston Brewing Company might appear at first glance to be a small enterprise, but this award-winning brewery has a global customer base, with consumers as far away as Hong Kong and the USA.

Using water from the Coniston fells, the brewery produces a range of cask ales, including the famous Bluebird Bitter, named after Donald Campbell’s record breaking boat, Bluebird.

About Coniston Brewing Company

The brewery was established in 1995 by Ian Bradley who is the son of the owners of the Black Bull, who had spent a few years studying the art of brewing before setting up the venture. Bradley was keen to use the finest ingredients for his brews and the fresh waters that flowed from the Coniston fells were perfect for creating the company’s fine ales.

In 1998, Bradley’s hard work paid off, when the brewery’s Bluebird Bitter won Supreme Champion Beer at the Great British Beer Festival. Beers are generally named with reference to something or someone local to Coniston.

Beer List

Beers produced by the Coniston Brewing Company include:

• Thurstein Pilsner – Continental style beer named after the name the name Norse settlers gave to Coniston Water
• No. 9 Barley Wine – A golden beer that is brewed once a year in time for Christmas
• Bluebird Bitter – The brewery’s most famous beer, a pale ale with an orange aroma
• Bluebird Premium XB – A smooth pale ale
• Old Man Ale – Named after the iconic fell above Coniston, this is a complex beer with barley, crystal, and pale ale malts
• Special Oatmeal Stout – Winner of the Cumbrian Micro-Challenge 2009

Visiting the Brewery

Although it’s not strictly open to the public, patrons of the Black Bull may be able to sneak a peek into the brewery if it’s particularly quiet, but this is not guaranteed. The Black Bull has a range of the brewery’s ales available from the bar and is a delightfully cosy inn.

Map