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With Dry January out of the way, you may be looking for a well-earned tipple. Cheshire has a superb range of breweries and distilleries, with many award-winning and nationally and internationally renowned creations. Whether you’re after a traditional bitter, a fruity and floral west coast pale ale, unique gin infusions, delectably spiced rum, and just about everything in between, Cheshire has you covered. What’s more, you can find all of these products online so can support local from the comfort of your own home. Here’s a roundup of some of our favourite Cheshire breweries and distilleries:
Based in Congleton, Beartown have a passion for brewing quality beer, blending traditional craft with a modern style. With everything from traditional bitter and mild to craft keg and lager, Beartown have become a staple amongst the pubs of Cheshire and beyond. With lockdown upon us again, they have you covered with a range of beer to order online including their new “hibernation packs”!
We recommend: Kahuna Passionfruit Pale
Based in scenic Mobberley, the Mobberley Brewhouse have become a staple amongst connoisseurs of craft. With two Project 53 taprooms in Stockport and Knutsford, they're an independent to watch out for. Here's what they have to say:
“We brew an ever-evolving variety of progressive Cask beer alongside modern, vibrant beers in Can & Keg. We brew a lot of different styles, but we are best known for our big, bold & juicy pale beers.
We started out in 2011, brewing traditional cask beer and supplying a handful of pubs within the local area - we now supply our beers all around the UK and abroad.
Our team is made up of very passionate, local people - many of whom were completely new to the industry but were keen to get involved in something they loved.”
We recommend: Loco Juice Tropical Pale
The Cheshire Brewhouse is a microbrewery based in Congleton.Shane Swindells is the driving force behind the scenes, a multi-skilled engineer and master-brewer with a real passion for quality. The Cheshire Brewhouse make beers that have a direct link to what beer-lovers in the 19th and early 20th century enjoyed, a communique with the past as well as a direct celebration of the present and the UK’s thriving and exciting beer scene of which Cheshire Brewhouse is a vital part.
We recommend: Lupy as a Tucan West Coast IPA
Lovingly, crafted, freshly brewed beer from Warrington, Cheshire. Hand delivered as single order or as a regular service - like a milkman, but with beer instead!
"We make beer. Like many a Warringtonian before us, including our Grandad. We’ve travelled the world – working and learning – and the people we met, the beer we drank, the flavours of those places, have inspired what we make today. Every bottle, every draught, contains all those experiences, all that history plus the finest British malts, yeast and hops from around the world. And a whole lotta love from our brewery (here) in Warrington."
We recommend: Session Pale Ale
Tatton Brewery is a family-run brewery in Knutsford, just a stone’s throw from Tatton Park. Here's what they have to say:
“We brew both classic and contemporary style beers in a modern brewery, and our beers are available in cask, keg and bottle in pubs, bars, restaurants and other venues across the North West.
We have a custom built modern brewery, and have combined this with a traditional local yeast (revived after 50 years retirement), the finest ingredients and years of experience creating internationally renowned beers, to brew what we believe to be Cheshire’s finest beers.”
We recommend: Tatton Blonde
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Weetwood Brewery and Distillery
A multi-award-winning brewery and distillery based in the heart of the beautiful Cheshire countryside near Tarporley, Weetwood are dedicated to producing premium quality beers and spirits that add to the enjoyment of life. They brew a range of permanent beers, some specials and one-offs and distil their own spirits from grain on a purpose-built sustainable site.
We recommend: Eastgate Ale / Raspberry Gin
Staring from humble beginnings, The Forest Distillery is now housed within a beautiful stone barn in the Peak District National Park. Their gin is recognised as one of the world’s finest spirits having won an unprecedented two separate double-gold medals at the San Francisco Spirit Awards. They are still a tiny, independent distillery and continue to produce their products in the same ways that they did at home, using pestle & mortars and tiny 25 litre stills. The Forest Distillery’s ingredients are foraged regularly from the Macclesfield Forest and they always do their very best to ensure that these fresh, natural flavours come through to your glass.
We recommend: Earl Grey Forest Gin
3 Pugs make small batch premium gin distilled with love in Warrington. The name of the gin is inspired by the owners’ love of two things; their Pugs; Pepsi, TuTu and Mojo and their love for Gin. 3 Pugs’ botanicals give you that citrus hit and warmth of spices, along with the drunken bottle, it just leaves you wanting more. Their gin liqueurs are fun and flirty, each one has its own Pugalicious ‘tail’ to tell!
We recommend: Bakewell Tart Gin Liqueur
"Delicious", "glorious" and "stunning" are just a few of the words used by recent customers to describe Wincle ales. They pride themselves on creating a delightful product that people really want to savour; whether it is a pint in your local or a bottle consumed at home. Wincle know that taste and quality are key to the enjoyment and that is why they never create beers that they wouldn't actually want to drink themselves. Wincle pride themselves on sourcing the majority of their ingredients from within the UK. Nothing is more local than the main ingredient: water which comes from their own spring at the Brewery. Locally sourced is both key to Wincle’s brand story and it also means they can create very unique, premium tasting beers.
We recommend: Burkes Special ESB
Based in Alderley Edge, The Edge Distillery have been receiving rave reviews since they made their first batch of London Dry Gin in October 2018. A various blend of botanicals, all working in perfect harmony, together with an unusual botanical "Wolfberry" has made this gin sublimely smooth and very moreish. Each sip of The Edge’s London dry gin will keep your tastebuds guessing and enthralled as to why it tastes so good!
We recommend: The Edge Pear Gin
One of Cheshire’s best attractions have brewed, balanced and bottled a delicious new gin, to give customers a memorable taste of Chester Zoo! Infused with hand-picked ingredients from the zoo itself, that also feed the animals, Chester Zoo gin is truly special, and will be sure to tickle the taste buds of any gin lover. Chester Zoo have teamed up with experts from The Secret Garden and The Old Curiosity Distillery, to combine the knowledge and passion for creating truly unique flavours. For that extra special touch, the gin bottle labels are made entirely from seed paper, so you can grow your own little piece of nature, courtesy of Chester Zoo. Simply plant the paper into the ground, water regularly and watch your wildlflowers grow!
Riverside Spirits create Intensely infused liqueurs, handmade in Cheshire. With humble beginnings in the agricultural traditions of Cheshire, as well as jam making, Christine from Riverside spirits now supplies a wide range of innovative liqueurs and infusions.
We recommend: Riverside Mango and Yuzu Rum
Karen Murray, Jones Distillery’s resident Master Distiller has learned from some of the industries big hitters to develop her own unique recipes on ‘Skip’, a 400L copper alembic still. Now made with distilling partners across Cheshire to keep up with demand. Karen remains involved in all key functions of the business from recipe development, production and marketing. With its natural beauty and undeniable charm, the Weaver Valley’s stunning backdrop is the inspiration behind each of Jones’ gins. Taking local botanicals forward into development to perfect the flavour characteristics of their award-winning gins.
We recommend: Jones Raspberry & Lime Gin
Made in the one of the smallest licensed UK distilleries. Second Son Gin is the perfect pairing for any premium tonic water. All their gins are created in Cheshire in a small pot still using the traditional single shot method, creating a true premium gin. Second Son are truly proud of their Gin, in fact so proud that John, the head distiller and owner, was confident enough to put his face on the front of the bottle!
We recommend: Second Son Cheshire Gin
4T’s are satisfying tastebuds everywhere! The Brewery are proud of what they do! For over 10 years they have produced quality cask, craft, bottled & canned beers in the heart of Warrington. John Wilkinson owner & founder of 4T’s Brewery, worked as a drayman for Tetley Walkers (Warrington) and always explored the brewery grounds, from there he opened his own pub in 1998 called Wilkies Tavern which is now named The Tavern Sports Bar, which is a well-known cask ale pub in Warrington. His dream was to always start his own brewery and produce the styles of beers he loves. Jordan Millington, head brewer of 4T’s Brewery, worked at The Tavern Sports Bar since 2007 and always had a love for real ale. John gave him the opportunity to join the rising of 4T’s and he loves producing beers that everyone will love resulting in the slogan “satisfying taste buds everywhere”.
We recommend: Warrington Special Bitter
Coach House was established in 1991 following the closure of Greenalls Brewery earlier that year. They are the oldest cask ale producer in Cheshire, celebrating their Silver anniversary in 2016. Coach House use only the finest quality malts, hops and yeast in all their beers and are well known for producing award winning beers that are consistent, well balanced, and most importantly tasty. Although they are a small team of qualified and dedicated people, their beers are available throughout the North West of England and can be found all over the country through their association with large pub companies and national wholesalers.
We recommend: Cheshire Gold
After a great reception from his hobby as an enthusiastic amateur brewer, Toby Mackenzie and his wife Caroline decided to expand and go full time establishing the award-winning Red Willow brewery in 2010. Their aim was to make the types of beer that they like - full of flavour yet easy to drink.Red Willow now offer a range of beers that can be found in many local pubs and shops in cask or bottles. There are a variety of beers in their core range which represent a wide range of styles including Feckless, Directionless, Wreckless, Headless, Ageless and Smokeless. They also have a seasonal range of guest beers which change to match the weather and the styles of food eaten at different times of the year.
We recommend: Wreckless APA
Based in Bollington, and certainly representing this part of Cheshire, the Bollington Brewery make exceptional real ale with passion. They know the trade well, operating three pubs in the area. With everything from traditional best bitter to IPAs, stouts and fruit infused beers, you’ll be spoilt for choice from this Cheshire mainstay.
We recommend: White Nancy Bitter
Juniper is at the very heart of each expression and always will be for Three Wrens. This is a matter of principal and pride. Their key values are integrity and passion and they firmly believe customers are looking for authenticity and credibility in the gin brands they look at. Three Wrens guarantee those promises and create exceptional liquids for people to enjoy – True Cheshire Gin. Their gins are all single shot distilled, meaning unlike many larger gin brands, they never use a concentrate.
The location of the distillery is incredible, and Three Wrens say that they are lucky to be surrounded by outstanding countryside. Ancient woodlands with up to 50 edible plant varieties of roots, shrubs and flowers are all within a few minutes walk. They are able to grow their own herbs and flowers to use in the gins they make, and they pick them from literally right outside the doors!
We recommend: Three Wrens Bison Grass Gin
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Artisan Gin from small batch producers, the Cheshire Gin Company, are the very finest British Dry Gin and Gin Liqueurs. The handpicked botanicals are carefully blended and distilled using Cheshire's Peckforton Spring or Staffordshire's Buxton Waters. The unique flavour combinations have created a delectable range of Gins and matching Liqueurs that can be enjoyed on their own, over ice with tonic or as an essential element of a fizzy cocktail!
We recommend: Cheshire Gin No. 2 Elderflower & Honeysuckle
Raising a glass? Make sure to tag us @VisitCheshire and use the hashtag #YourCheshire!
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