Keswick Brewing Company

Image thanks to Keswick Brewing Company

Located on the edge of Keswick town centre, the Keswick Brewing Company is a fairly small enterprise, but the addition of a bar in recent years has enabled this brewery to grow significantly.

Although this is still very much a micro-brewery, tours are available here, offering visitors a great way to pass the time whilst in Keswick, especially when the weather is poor.

About the Keswick Brewing Company

Image thanks to Keswick Brewing Company

The brewery was founded in in 2006 by Sue Jefferson, an ale enthusiast who previously owned a guesthouse in the town. Keen to take an environmental approach to brewing, Jefferson ensured that that any equipment purchased was as environmentally friendly as possible, and the brewery claims to be the only brewery that uses sheep’s wool as insulation for the brewing process.

The first beer made by the brewery, and one of the company’s bestsellers, was a golden pale ale named “Thirst Run.” The story goes that the name was intended to be “First Run”, but due to a miscommunication with the graphic designer it ended up with a slightly more unusual name that is perhaps a lot more memorable.

Although the brewery was established in 2006, it is believed to be on the same site as the former Keswick Brewery Company that ceased trading in 1897. Today, the brewery has a core range of cask, keg, and bottled beers, but they are forever trying new ideas with seasonal and special edition beers regularly produced throughout the year.

Beer List

Image thanks to Keswick Brewing Company

Beers produced by the Keswick Brewing Company include:

• Keswick Gold – A golden bitter
• Keswick Bitter – A chestnut brown ale
• Thirst Quencher – A refreshing pale ale
• KSB – Keswick Special Bitter – A rich malty bitter

Visiting the Brewery

Brewery tours are available Tuesday to Saturday at 11.30am and 1.30pm throughout the year, though you should always check in advance of your visit as winter availability may vary, and advanced booking is highly recommended. Tours cost £10 per person and include samples of the beers. The tours take around 45 minutes to complete.

The Fox Tap Bar is open Tuesday to Saturday, but again, winter times do vary so it’s always worthwhile checking in advance. You can try the full range of the brewery’s beers here, along with alternative drinks. The onsite shop also sells the full range of beers, along with other gifts such as brewery branded clothing and accessories.

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