Yorkshire beer and wine

Breweries

From historic breweries with coppers gleaming under oak-timbered ceilings and mystic brews frothing in antique stone 'squares', to micro breweries with state-of-the-art stainless steel, today's dedicated Yorkshire brewers are busily producing hundreds of varieties of real ale for you to enjoy!

Those in search of a beer break in Yorkshire would be wise to head to one of our region’s breweries, where we have over 50 to choose from! See our selection below and get ready to enjoy a proper pint or two – a real taste to savour.

• Black Sheep Brewery – Black Sheep Brewery Visitor Centre is the ideal place for a 'ewe-nique' day out! Shepherded tours, fully licensed Bistro & Baa...r and a large sheepy shop.
• Theakston Brewery - Relaxed and comfortable visitor centre with video, story boards and regular guided tours.
• York Brewery - No trip to York is complete without a visit to York's friendly and independent brewery, where beer is brewed using traditional methods.
• Hambleton Ales, an award-winning independent brewery based in the hills of North Yorkshire. Initially based in a converted outbuilding, the brewery achieved the target production of 800 gallons a week within the first six months and an award winning beer within the first year.
• Little Valley Brewery, Hebden Bridge - Little Valley Brewery produces a range of 7 different varieties of bottle conditioned and cask premium quality 100% organic real ales. Little Valley also produces a Fair Trade ginger pale ale. There is a brewery shop and tours of the brewery.
• Sheffield Brewery Company - The Sheffield Brewery Company is an independent micro-brewery producing some of the finest cask ales in Yorkshire. The newly installed bar, recycled from the University Halls, means that they can offer groups a fantastic brewery tour.
• Saltaire Brewery - The brewery features a Visitor Centre with mezzanine bar and exhibition about the science of brewing. The Visitor Centre fascinates not only real ale fans, but also all those who are interested in seeing how things happen!
• The New Inn and Cropton Brewery - conducted tour of small country brewery famous for its award-winning ales. Visitor centre in attractive rural setting, unusual gifts, real ale bar and restaurant.
• Ossett Brewery - A family run local brewery with several award winning beers. Tours are available around the brewery.
• Richmond Brewing Company - a six barrel microbrewery established by brewers Andy Hamilton and Richard Bowerman, situated in The Station, a new tourist attraction in Richmond. The company provides first class ales in bottle and cask to businesses in The Station complex as well as Richmond and the Yorkshire area.
• Brown Cow Brewery – A family run brewery that have been brewing beer for the last 11 years. Situated just outside Selby in North Yorkshire.

A fine pint in Yorkshire

• The Durham Ox, Crayke - Three hundred years old, and family owned for the last seven years, the Durham Ox was recently named ‘AA Pub of the Year’ for England.
• The Woolley Sheep, Skipton - Well known locally for their range of award winning Timothy Taylor real ales.
• Rat and Ratchet, Huddersfield - Award-winning CAMRA pub of the year 2008. 12 real ales, dedicated black beer pump, real cider, legendary juke box, quiz nights and bar food available.
• The White Lion Inn, Cray - Located in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, nestling beneath Buckden Pike, this is the highest pub in Wharfedale.
• The Old Hall, Threshfield - Located close to Grassington National Park Centre on the B6265, you will quickly become aware that The Old Hall Inn is a traditional Yorkshire pub of the highest quality, and much more!
• Falcon Inn, Arncliffe - With its bay windows and ivy covered exterior, the Falcom Inn offers superb Dales hospitality. Ale is still served in the time honoured fashion - from barrel to glass via a porcelain jug.
• The Green Dragon, Exelby - Whether it’s a sandwich and coffee, sampling a traditional ale, or enjoying a family meal for a special occasion you can always be sure of a very warm welcome.
• Farmers Arms, Holmfirth - Award-winning pub offering a choice of real ales and serving quality home cooked food.
• One Eyed Rat, Ripon - serves an exceptional selection of quality ales, continental biers, fine wine, fruit wines and mulled wine and has been found in the Good Beer Guide for the last 10 years.
• Whitelocks, Leeds – Established in 1715, Whitelocks pride themselves on their quality and diverse quantity of ale. They are also one of the only pubs around today that serve ale in a handled jug, so why not pop in and try a real ale in a real glass?
• Ye Olde Punch Bowl, Marton Cum Grafton - A Morrissey Fox Inn located in North Yorkshire, serving fine local ales to match excellent food. There’s also an onsite micro brewery.
• The Cross Keys, Leeds - Their selection of real ales always includes at least one offering from their favourite British brewery, Rooster's of Knaresborough. They also dedicate one of their hand pumps to a traditional cask conditioned porter or stout.

Fun facts on Yorkshire's pubs

Oldest pub!

The Bingley Arms, located in the village of Bardsey near Leeds is one of the oldest pubs in Britain.

Set in a tranquil position away from busy roads and near a trickling stream, the magnificent building must be seen close up. From a fine, original Dutch oven in the lounge to the old priest holes hidden in the chimney, every room is full of history and magical stories.

Most haunted pub!

The Golden Fleece claims to be York’s most haunted pub, and one of England's most haunted sites. Visit this spooky inn and you can be sure of a friendly atmosphere, quiet surroundings and traditional service. Situated in an ancient building that is mentioned in the York Archives as far back as 1503, the Golden Fleece stands directly opposite York's most historic and picturesque street, The Shambles.

Highest pub!

Tanhill Inn in the Yorkshire Dales is a very special place, occupying a lonely site, high in the Yorkshire Dales. It is in fact, the highest pub in Great Britain at 1,732ft above sea level. Here you will receive one of the warmest and friendliest welcomes that you could ever wish to find.

Beer Festivals

Leeds CAMRA Beer, Cider and Perry Festival (18th – 20th March 2010)

Every year the members of Leeds CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, put together the biggest and best selection of real ales, ciders and perries that will be seen all year in Leeds. Add to this a fantastic selection of global beers from all over the world, tasty food, a selection of beery stalls, and live music from local bands, they have a festival that really is the place to be in March.

Dales Festival of Food and Drink (May 2010)
Weaving together the three fundamental elements that make the Dales Festival of Food and Drink a success – Food, Farming and Fun. Visitors will find something for everyone from the best locally sources organic meats to award-winning beers within the festival’s own Drinks Marquee and 'Beer Festival'.

York Festival of Food and Drink (17th - 26th September 2010)
York Food and Drink Festival is unique because it is set in and around the City’s many amazing historic venues. Its main focus is local and regional food and drink. With nearly 200 pubs in York, beer drinkers are spoilt for choice! If you enjoy real ale however, why not follow the Festival Ale Trail?

Black Sheep Brewery Boots and Beer Walking Festival
What could be better than a weekend of great walks, fine ales and fantastic entertainment? Details of the 9th annual Black Sheep Boots and Beer Walking Festival, in the picturesque Yorkshire Dales, will be announced early 2010.

Great Yorkshire Beer Festival

The first annual Great Yorkshire Beer Festival took place in October 2009. Hosted by Boston Spa & Tadcaster Round Table, the event  served over 2000 people. The beer festival brought together beers from throughout Yorkshire and beyond to raise money for two very worthy local children's charities - Martin House Hospice and Candlelighters. Details of the 2010 Great Yorkshire Beer Festival are yet to be announced.

Vinyards and Wineries

• Leventhorpe Vineyard, Leeds - Leventhorpe is the most northerly commercially producing vineyard in the UK and one of the very few that lies within a city boundary. With its own well-equipped winery, its wines are given a long fermentation to preserve nose and delicacy. Oz Clarke has recommended Leventhorpe’s wines over the years and the vineyard is included in his new series 'Oz and James Drink to Britain'. Leventhorpe's wines are available at Weeton's of Harrogate.
• Yorkshire Country Wines – Yorkshire Country Wines are produced traditionally from fruits and flowers without the use of grape juice, using recipes which have been tried and tested over many years of family wine-making. The varieties fermented in the Winery include Elderberry, Blackberry, Damson, Gooseberry, Rhubarb, Cherry, and the ever-popular Elderflower.
• Ryedale Vineyards, Westow - Twelve miles from the historic walled cathedral city of York, Ryedale Vineyards provides a tranquil rural setting for short or long stays. When they are in production, Ryedale Vineyards are set to become the most northerly commercial vineyards in England. Our two sites have been planted with a range of modern varieties including Seyval Blanc, Ortega, and Siegerrebe.
• Glendale Ginger, Reeth - This North Yorkshire producer of non alcoholic ginger wine, uses a family that has been passed down generations for over 300 years. The wine is available online and at farmers markets and shops. They recieved a 1 Star Gold Award for Traditional Ginger Drink in the Great Taste Awards 2008.
• Sloe Motion, York - North Yorkshire farm growing Blackthorn to produce the sloe berries for traditional sloe gin. There is a strong focus on wildlife and environment. Products include sloe chutney, sloe chocolate truffles as well as sloe gin, whisky and vodka. They have won a Gold award at the Taste of Britain/Telegraph awards 2007, and a 1 Star Gold Award for theor Sloe Gin, in The Great Taste Awards 2008.