Craft beers are right up our street here at Chestnut House: they’re created by small breweries, are a little bit experimental, and bring something different to the beer market. Lake District craft beers are even more special to us because they’re so local and make use of the county’s unique elements, bringing out flavours you won’t find in ales or lagers made anywhere else.

What is craft beer?

Craft beers are produced by small breweries and, as a result, are brewed in much smaller batches, ones that are often unique limited editions. You’ll find many in local pubs as guest beers, and bottles in smaller shops like ours. Craft beers also usually stand out for their flavours, which are often more experimental and stronger than commercial alternatives.

Read on for some tasty local options to get you started.

Lake District Craft Beers

Brack ‘N’ Brew Boathouse Blonde

4.1% ABV

Celebrating our own town and lake, Brack ‘N’ Brew is an Ullswater-based brewery based at the Brackenrigg Inn. Boathouse Blonde was their first-ever production and is named for the famous Duke of Portland boathouse on Ullswater, which has been photographed countless times. The blonde ale is fruity and refreshing with hints of grapefruit.

Bowness Bay Swan Free Craft Lager

0.5% ABV

Specialising in smooth and flavourful ales, Bowness Bay Brewery was founded in Kendal, the “gateway to the Lake District”. They’ve been honoured with several accolades and awards, including at the World Beer Awards. Though also creating a number of popular traditional beers, their low-alcohol options are well worth a taste. The Czech Pilsner-style Swan Free lager is bright and crisp with a continental bite and a hint of citrusy aroma.

Appleby Brewery Senior Moment

3.9% ABV

Now part of the Bowness Bay brewery, the Appleby Brewery has a great sense of humour and infuses its beer with ‘the spirit of Cumbria’. Try the Senior Moment, a classic beer made with traditional English hops. Just don’t drink too much or you really will be having some senior moments!

Lakes Brew Co DDH Pale Ale

4% ABV

Founded by four colleagues when they were made redundant, the Lakes Brew Co is a progressive and innovative micro-brewery that extols collaboration. They were immediately success on their opening, racking up SIBA award-wins in no time at all. Juicy and bold, their DDH Pale Ale is a taste sensation with intense tropical and citrus flavours – perfect for a summer’s day.

Cumbrian Ales Loweswater Gold

4.3% ABV

If you’ve heard of any Lake District craft beers, it’s probably Loweswater Gold. Though first created near the shores of Loweswater, the brewery’s home is now in Hawkshead. This is a big favourite with visitors and residents alike, and was even named Champion Golden Ale of Britain. It has a light tropical fruit flavour that will appeal to many.

Cumbrian Ales Session IPA

4.5% ABV

If you prefer a hoppier taste to your beers than Loweswater Gold offers, try another favourite from Cumbrian Ales: the Session IPA. Bringing together plenty of flavours that include Citra, Amarillo, mango and gooseberry, this ale has lots of delicious flavour to offer.

Great Corby Lakeland Summit

4% ABV

Great Corby Brewhouse likes to tell a story through each of its beers, from the long hunt for the perfect high-quality ingredients, to the careful balancing process that goes into crafting each flavour. Lakeland Summit is one of the brewery’s classics – a light session ale that starts with a fresh burst of lime and ends with a subtle bitter tingle.

Hesket Newmarket Black Sail

3.6% ABV

Nestled on the edge of the North Lakes, the small village of Hesket Newmarket is home to a micro-brewery of the same name. Though founded in 1988, it was bought by the community in 1999 to prevent its closure or sale to a larger company. To this day, it is co-operatively owned and driven by that sense of community. Black Sail is a full-bodied stout named after a mountain in the Central Lakes. There’s a lot of chocolate to taste in the blend, as well as coffee and liquorice for a fabulous bitterness.

Hesket Newmarket Old Carrock

6.0% ABV

Another option from Hesket Newmarket is Old Carrock, this one named for a more local fell in the north of the Lake District. It’s a gold medal-winning ruby ale with a rich, deep flavour and moderate bitterness. The careful blend of dark, crystal and pale malts is enticingly smooth.

Tirril Brewery Premium Pilsner

Gluten free, 5.0% ABV

One of Cumbria’s oldest breweries, Tirril Brewery has been making beers since the late 90s. Their focus is on good, old-fashioned “beer-flavoured beer” that you’d find in a traditional pub. Their Premium Pilsner is a strong lager with a European flavour thanks to the its Czech Saaz hops.

Keswick Brewing Co Keswick Bitter

3.7% ABV

A craft brewery with green values at its heart, the Keswick Brewing Co’s premises in Keswick were built and expanded with eco-friendly features in mind. They’ve even been awarded a Green at Heart Gold Award and are committed to managing and reducing the environmental impact of their business. When you have one of their beers – like the Keswick Bitter – you’re contributing towards those goals. The bitter itself is a chestnut brown ale that combines four malts and two hops, providing an easy-to-drink flavour.

Tractor Shed Whistling Pig Pilsner

5% ABV

With no frills and no dogma, the Tractor Shed is straight and to the point. Even the brewery’s name is straightforward: it all started in the old tractor shed of the farm where the beers are made. One of their most popular beers is Whistling Pig, a pilsner of lager malt, Czech hops and Lakeland water. Delicious!

Browse our beer shop

We have a great selection of local Lake District craft beers for you to sample and take home from micro-breweries across Cumbria. Many are inspired by the local landscape and history to give you a special taste of the region. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do!