Hawkshead Brewery

Despite its name, Hawkshead Brewery isn’t actually in Hawkshead, it’s in Staveley, which is near Kendal. Confused? The brewery did start life in Hawkshead, but its success meant that larger premises were needed, which is why it ended up in Staveley.

Today it’s one of the larger breweries in the Lake District and it combines a bar with a brewery. Tours are available and, twice a year, the brewery hosts a large beer festival with live music and over 50 different award winning beers.

About Hawkshead Brewery

What does a former BBC Middle East correspondent do when he tires of travelling? In Alex Brodie’s case, he pursued his love of beer and opened a micro-brewery in a barn just outside of Hawkshead. He was joined by New Zealand native, Matt Clarke, who had studied brewing in depth and brought a love of New Zealand and American hops with him. The brewery first began production in 2002 and the pair were so successful that in 2006 they were forced to move to larger premises in Staveley, with the capacity to produce 100 barrels a week.

The brewing duo added a Beer Hall, where visitors could grab a bite to eat and sample some of the many beers that were produced at the site, and they introduced twice yearly beer festivals that draw large crowds and showcase a wide selection of beers from independent breweries. Their success continued and in 2018 they opened a second brewery in Flookburgh that is capable of producing 360 barrels per week. Brodie has now retired and holds a voluntary position of “Chief Beer Taster,” but it’s clear that that Hawkshead Brewery has a bright future ahead.

Beer List

Beers produced by the Hawkshead Brewery include:

• Windermere Pale Ale
• Bitter
• Red
• Lakeland Gold
• Brodie’s Prime
• Hawkshead Lager
• Dry Stone Stout
• Five Hop
• NZPA
• Session IPA

In addition, there are a wide array of seasonal and commemorative beers.

Visiting the Brewery

Daily tours are available each day at 1pm. The tour lasts around 45 minutes and includes a short film. The cost is £10 per person and includes either a pint or two half pints. Children are permitted provided they are accompanied by an adult, costing £6 per child with a soft drink included.

The Beer Hall is open daily and has viewing areas into the brewery. Food is available here, along beers from the brewery.

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