Barngates (updated June 2008)
Opened 1997 Brewer John Lloyd, a 5 barrel plant situated behind the Drunken Duck Inn in Barngates near Ambleside. (See history and brewery info, updated June 2008)
New plant installed at Easter with minimal disruption to production. Now a 10 barrel plant, currently producing 22.5 barrels p/w. Size of workforce increased to 4.
Regular beers are Cat Nap, Cracker Ale, Tag Lag and Chester’s Strong and Ugly
Catnap and K9 not in production for at least a year, due to hop failure in USA. New, low gravity beer developed to fill the gap left by Cat Nap: Mothbag @ 3.6% (named after another former pub cat) A Light golden ale with plenty of citrus hop on the nose and palette: vibrant! Mothbag has already proven to be a popular addition to the award winning Barngates range.

Beckstones
A 5 barrel plant located in an 18th century mill at the Green, Millom, using the kit from the High Force Brewery. Opened 2003 Brewer Dave Taylor. (see article in What Ales Spring 2004)
Regular beers are Leat, Bitta Clout, Iron Town, Border Steeans, Haematite.
Demand for these wonderful beers is very high and Dave sometimes finds it difficult to meet it!
Beckstones now have a brewery tap! The Punchbowl at the Green, a mile or four outside Millom.

Bitter End (updated June 2008)
Brew lengths are currently running at 1-3 barrels, with good sales through the pub and the Royal Yew at Dean, plus the odd sale to the free trade and festivals.
Three regular beers are now brewed, with some distribution to the free trade, along with a seasonal range of traditional English beer styles.
Regular beers: Lakeland Bitter (ABV 3.8%)Lakeland Pale Ale (ABV 4%)(was Cockermouth Pride), Lakeland Best Gold (ABV 4.3%)
One-off and festival brews as ever, continue to exhibit innovation in technique, and sometimes in ingredient.
Seasonal beers: Espresso Stout (ABV 6.8% Dec-Jan) Cuddy Lugs 4.3% (ABV 4.3% Feb-Mar) Dark Mild (ABV 3.6% Apr-May) Grasp the Nettle (ABV 4% June) Wild Honey (ABV 5.5% July) Three Hares (ABV 3.6% Aug-Sep) Bitter End Barley Wine (ABV 6.2% Oct-Nov)
click here for brewery history, updated June 2008.
What happened to Cocker Snoot, Cuddy Lugs, etc?

Blackbeck Brewery
Brewing at last!!!
Trial Run, 3.4%, is a gloriously quaffable, light, fruity, golden ale, designed by the very talented Peter Laws, who is helping the brewers Kenny and Johnnny Taylor to get established. Seriously drinkable, this amazing beer is full of flavour which continues at full taste impact all the way through at least 3 pints (as tested by CdeC!)
The pump clip features the first of a planned series of different girls riding a horse on a fairground carousel, reflecting the company's other main interest - fairgrounds.

Cock Robin Cider
Happy Apple cider produced by Robin Barton in Abbeytown.
Watch out - keg versions and blanket pressure versions have been seen - not all is real!

Coniston updated June 2008)
Since Coniston's wonderful Bluebird Bitter won Champion Beer of Britain in 1998, the brewery has been pushed to keep up with demand and has gone from strength to strength, now brewing 30 barrels a week. (See history article) This 10 barrel plant, (Brewer Ian Bradley)opened in 1995, is at the back of the Black Bull pub, Coniston
Oliver's Light Ale was joint 2nd.(Silver Medal) with Barngates at the Micro Challenge at Burgundy's Wine Bar in Kendal just being pipped to first place by Yates I.P.A., so a good result for all three brewers. Booth's Supermarkets already sell bottled Bluebird and it is their best selling bottled beer; they are shortly to be stocking Coniston Old Man Ale as well.
Coniston supply Green's Bakery in Barrow with their beers now, to make his wonderful ‘steak in ale’ pies
Regular beers are Bluebird, Opium, Bluebird XB, Old Man Ale

Cumberland Brewery, Great Corby
"Corby Ale is now on sale and is proving popular among those who have tried it, including drinkers at The Queen Inn in Great Corby. Those behind the beer’s creation hope it will be the start of several lines from the hub of their operations at The Old Forge in the village. A company spokesman said: “We are in our infancy at the moment. “Our main product is Corby Ale. This is our first product and it is hoped we can expand and go on to produce two or three other beers together with lagers.” The brewery – under the direction of head brewer Rod MacDonald – has been built, has a good capacity and it is hoped the business will grow. It is thought that the lager would have to be produced at bigger premises, potentially handing the area a jobs boost. But whatever expansion takes place, Cumberland’s spokesman said it would remain a Carlisle-based business and that it would stay in Cumbria. He added: “The whole programme has been in development for more than two years. “The first beer came off about two months ago and has been a great success, we have found. “Sales are growing well in the area. A lot of freehouses are getting on board.”" (Text from Cumberland News & Star)

Cumbria Legendary Ales Based at the Old Hall Brewery, Hawkshead, Ambleside, a long held dream to start their own microbrewery became a reality for ex-Hawkshead Brewer David Newham and wife Liz when, together with their partners David and Gill Frost, they launched Cumbrian Legendary Ales in June 2006, in a 10-barrel brewhouse in a renovated Tudor farmstead on the western shores of Esthwaite Water.
They aimed - and succeeded - in bringing to life some of the fascinating myths and legends of the region through the names and characters of their quality ales, resulting in beers names such as Wicked Jimmy, Dickie Doodle, Buttermere Beauty, King Dunmail, Claife Crier and now Croglin Vampire, Langdale Moonshine Ale and Bishop's Rock.
The brewery was taken over in March 2009 by the Loweswater Brewery with Hayley Barton as head brewer and currently some 50 outlets are supplied. The brewery is currently concentrating on a smaller number of beers whilst introducing the award winning Loweswater Gold (4.3%) to a wider audience. Some of the other high volume Loweswater range will also be produced here in due course. Seasonal beers such as Langdale Moonshine Ale (4.4%) and Scary Mary (4.2%) will continue to feature, as will Dickie Doodle (OG 1040, ABV 3.9%) A golden bitter with distinctive flavour and aroma of American Cascade hops, and Buttermere Beauty (OG 1047, ABV 4.8%) an English pilsner, full-bodied and fruity with a clean finish.
Note: Update May 2009 - This brewery has been sold to the owners of Loweswater Brewery (and the Kirkstile Inn), and currently the range of Loweswater beers are being brewed here, together with Dickie Doodle and Buttermere Beauty. Other CLA beers may appear as occasionals in the future.

Dent
The brewery, set up in 1990 in a converted barn, and using water from its own spring, has also gone from strength to strength. Their own distribution company, Flying Firkin, supplies pubs, clubs and festivals all over the north.
Regular beers are Bitter, Aviator, Ramsbottom, Kamikaze, T’owd Tup + many seasonals. further information....

Derwent
The Derwent Brewery, at the Station Road Industrial Estate, in Silloth, opened in 1996, and is a 5 barrel plant run by Frank Smith, (a former head brewer of Jennings Brewery, Cockermouth and of Broughton Brewery) and Hans Kruger. A specialty of the brewery is using recipes from long gone Cumbrian Brewers.
Regular beers are Carlisle State Bitter, Parson’s Pledge, Whitwell Marks IPA and Auld Kendal

Foxfield (updated June 2008)
Stuart and Lynda Johnson, having great success at the Tigertops Brewery in Wakefield, set up a 3 barrel plant in stables at the back of the Prince of Wales pub, where they brew a number of interesting ales, and sell several guest beers, too. See further info, updated June 2008
Stuart continues to produce top notch Dark Mild, Sands, Brief Encounter, Fleur de Lys and variations thereof, along with Stouts and Porters on an occasional basis. Sue has now left for other employment - a club offer was irresistible, much the sadness of all!
Production was up in 2007 up to 67 gyles, well up on previous, which was 45 gyles. Money was invested in new steam cleaning equipment, which has obviously made Stuart's life a lot easier.
The pub, recently extended, continues to be a mecca for real ale drinkers from all over the country and their regular themed beer festivals and the Broughton Beer Festival are all legendary and hugely popular, the marquee with its own bar in the paved garden area proving as popular as the pub! If this seems more about the pub than the brewery it is because the two are unentangleable! Other than when beers are exchanged as part of Stuart and Lynda's regular collection and delivery runs around Britain, early each week, most of the brewery's products are sold over their own bar or at festivals

Geltsdale
Geltsdale Brewery, Crawhall, Brampton, was started up by Solway branch CAMRA member, Fiona Deal, in November 2006 in a small unit housed in Brampton's old brewery. First beer was for tasting in December 2006. Geltsdale is the name of a forest covered mountain area south of Brampton and beers are brewed, using Geltsdale water. Beers so far: King's Forest Best Bitter (3.8%), Tarnmonath (4.0%), Time-honoured (4.0%) Hell Beck Ruby Ale (4.2%) and Black Dub (3.6%)
More details about the beers, brewery and outletshere - updated Aug 2008!

Great Gable (updated June 2008)
The Wasdale Head Inn, in remote Wasdale, under the shadow of Great Gable, opened its in-house, 10 barrel brewery in 2002 under brewer Giles Holiday, (see history, brewery and beer details, updated June 2008) and is now producing a range of interesting beers.:
First beers were the ever popular Great Gable Bitter - a refreshing 3.4% session beer which is just right for thirsty walkers after a day's climbing; and the stronger Wasd'Ale. Other regular beers are Burnmoor Pale, Scawfell, Illgill IPA, Yewbarrow, Lingmell. etc - see link above for further beers, including three new ones for 2008.
The brewery is now able to bottle all its own beers, bright and lightly carbonated. (Not bca's) but this operation is suspended because of heavy demand for beers and lack of time! Mini casks now being filled at brewery and on sale in bar.
A new beer will be brewed for Kate Christie (owner’s wife)‘s birthday in July.
Not able to keep up with demand so Wasdale Head Inn is taking beers from Yates and Derwent breweries.

Hardknott
This brewery has its home in the Woolpack Inn, Eskdale. First brews were: A strong, dark, malty, delicately hopped beer called Tenacity, at 5%, and a dark mild called Black Sail, at 2.8%. Further brews have taken place, the latest being Colonial Breakfast at 5.4%. See Article in Spring 2006 What Ales

Hawkshead (updated June 2008)
The 7 barrel brewery was set up in 2002 in a restored 17th century barn at Town End, Hawkshead near Ambleside by Alex Brodie, using plant from Border Brewery and was relinquished in 2007. Some plant was sold to Grindleston Brew House ( Clitheroe) and to the Cumbrian micro, Geltsdale.
Hawkshead is now only operating at and from the 20 barrel plant at Staveley, where there is a superb beer hall for sampling (open afternoons and early evenings) and regular beer festivals are held - the next starts 24th July, for four days, with a second marquee bar outside where the band will now play Sat evening.
See article from Autumn 2003 What Ales for history but for more info, click here, updated June 2008
Regular beers are Bitter, Red, Lakeland Gold and Brodie's Prime. UPA is a seasonal.
Latest News: Damson Stout 2008, limited edition, in cask and bottle, in time for Damson Day in the Lyth Valley, April 21st. Lakeland Lager, 5%, in 330 cl bottle and cask conditioned by mid April. UPA currently available. Also possibility of a new Oatmeal Stout in near future. i.e the Damson Stout without the Damsons!

Hesket Newmarket(updated June 2008)
Hesket Newmarket Brewery is in a barn at the back of the Old Crown Inn (Cumbria Pub of the Year 2001) and all brews (except Doris' 90th Birthday Ale) are named after local fells. The brewery, opened in 1988 by Jim Fearnley and is now owned by a village cooperative. (See comprehensive history with beer descriptions and abvs, updated June 2008
Regular beers are Great Cockup Porter, Blencathra Bitter, Skiddaw Special Bitter, Haystacks, Helvellyn Gold, High Pike, Doris’s 90th Birthday Ale, Sca Fell, Catbells Pale Ale and Old Carrock Strong Ale
Big celebrations for Hesket Newmarket as they reached 20 years of continuous brewing this year! Congratulations to all! A new beer Hesket XX 20th Anniversary Ale was brewed to commemorate the event and was launched by Roger Protz, editor of our Good Beer Guide. See news & Star article here
Manager, Colin Cheyne, left May 2008 and is replaced by Andy Webster, ex Conservative Club Penrith, who also held posts in pubs and hotels in Dorset and Somerset. Mike Parker, head brewer, retired from Hesket Newmarket Brewery in July 2007. His replacement is Paul Johnson, who is, as always, ably assisted by Arthur Walby.

Jennings(updated June 2008)
Opened in 1828 as Jennings Brothers, but now owned by Marston's, the Castle brewery in Cockermouth is the largest, (150 barrel brew length) brewery in Cumbria, and is part of one of the largest brewery companies in the country. Jennings, as it was, under former brewer, Peter Laws, had a portfolio of 12 first class beers, the most commonly available being the tawny coloured, richly malty, Jennings Bitter. The paler, hoppier, Cumberland Ale is popular and now very widely available, being marketed by Marston's Brewery as a flagship brand. Regular beers are Dark Mild, Bitter, Cumberland Ale, Cocker Hoop, Snecklifter. Yan T'yan Tethera is out at the moment and to be followed by Tom Fool in June. They are brewing a Rye Beer for September/October as part of a series of 6 beers (2 each from Jennings, Marstons & Banks). Honey Bole is on again in July, followed by Fish King in August and Swan's Lake 4.2%, a light chestnut ale with sweet biscuity & malty flavour with a hint of spiciness, in October

Keswick (updated May 2008)
Now well-established in the area, the brewery established by Phil and Sue Harrison during Spring 2006 on the site of an old brewery, has a range of beers available:
Regular beers: Thirst Rescue 3.7%, Thirst Pitch 3.8%, Thirst Ascent 4%, Thirst Run 4.2%, Thirst Fall 4.8%. Seasonal and Specials are also available throughout the year.
Latest News
A range of the regular beers are now available in bottles. Thirst Celebration, a 7% India Pale Ale has also been bottled and has been very well received.
The brewery website is now live at www.keswickbrewery.co.uk. Brewery Tours are available. Please ring to find out opening times or to book a tour. Further details about both the brewery and beers, updated June 2008

Kirkby Lonsdale Brewery
Kirkby Lonsdale Brewery, in the Old Station Yard, selling at the Orange Tree Pub, owned by Stuart Taylor, Richard Taylor, Roger Taylor and Alan Stephenson.
Now actively brewing, the first beer, Ruskins Bitter, 3.9% sold out very quickly!

Loweswater (Updated May 2009)
Opened 2003 with Brewer Matt Webster this is a 2-barrel plant at the Kirkstile Inn, (West Cumbria's Pub of the Year 2003 and 2004), (see more...).
Newest beer, Kirkstile Gold, was so popular they couldn't keep up with demand!
Nor find space for all the awards it's winning!
So they changed the name to Loweswater Gold 4.3% and it is now brewed at the Hawkshead (Old Hall) premises together with Melbreak Bitter 3.7%, Grasmoor Dark Ale a 4.3% mild.
They are now bottling their own beers which are lasting well - 6 months at least, without pasteurising. The brewery has recently had a conditioning room extension added. New addition to these popular beers, Loweswater Pale Ale 3.6 % is proving to be a great success. Matt Webster brews at the pub and former assistant Hayley, now brews at the Old Hall premises recently bought from Cumbrian Legendary Ale. Pub awarded West Cumbria CAMRA POTY 2008. Click here for an interesting article on a brew from the Winter 2007/8 What Ales (pdf)
Note: update May, 2009 - no brewing is being done here at the moment - everything is being brewed at the Cumbrian Legendary Ales Brewery in Hawkshead.

Solway Cider
A new cider producing business, begun in 2005 by Garry Parsons, now supplying ciders around the county. Further information here
You may find their cider at Newcastle Arms-Newcastle, Old Boathouse-Wylam, Riverside-South Shields, Woolpack-Boot, Middle Ruddings Hotel- Braithwaite, Eagle & Child-Staveley , Ship Inn-Greenodd, SOLFEST, the Globe Hensingham and occasionally at Kirkstile Inn-Loweswater, Wasdalehead Inn-Wasdale, Prince of Wales Foxfield.

Strands (Updated April 2009)
This brewery is located in an ex-stable building at the back of the Strands Hotel in Nether Wasdale. Brewer, Mark Corr, who moved to the hotel 2 years ago with wife, Lesley, got his kit, most of which came from Saddleworth Brewery, almost immediately but didn't get started on brewing until Early February last year. The first beer was Errmmm 3.8% (at Wast It's here) and is a light, hoppy session beer, full of character - a great start! is now in full flow! and has has been consistently popular.
It has since been followed by Errmmm IPA at 4.2% and the unique Angry Bee, also 4.2% A very sweet and distinctive honey beer, where a honey specialist would probably be able to identify the actual honey used!! There have apparently been lots of other beers tried since the early days. T'errmmm-minator, porter-style beer at 4.9% has been seen back on the bar, with Corrsberg a lager type 4.15 and Red Screes, a glorious red beer of 4.5%. The latest to steal the thunder is Dafydd Ale, a gorgeous 4.2% golden ale, full of flavour and sweetness,

Stringers (Updated April 2009)
A new brewery which opened this year in an industrial unit in Ulverston, first brewing on 8th July 2008, is run by Becky Stringer from Liverpool and husband, Barrow lad Jon Kyme. The 6 BBL brewplant was supplied by Porter's PBC Brewery Installations and the brewery is run using 100% renewably-powered energy. Already onto its 4th beer and proving very popular, Becky and Jon want to sell as much of their beer locally as they can, to stay true to their 'green' aims. Regular beers are a strong bitter Genuine Stunning 6.5%, No 2 Stout 4% and Best Bitter 4.2%

Tirril (Updated April 2009)
Opened 1999 by brewer, Chris Tomlinson this 10 barrel plant was originally situated in the Queen’s Head Tirril, (now sold to Robinson's) but then relocated at close-by Brougham Hall for more space, and in July 2007, moved to a 20 barrel plant at Long Marton, near Appleby, for further explansion. . further information ...
Regular beers are John Bewsher’s Best Bitter 3.8%, Charles Gough's Old Faithful 4%, Brougham Ale 3.9%, 1823 4.1%, Thomas Slee's Academy Ale 4.2% and Red Barn Ale 4.4%. There are other seaonal and occasional beers such as Amber's 4.2%, Balls Up! 3.9%, and the classic winter warmer, Graduate 4.6%

Ulverston (Updated April 2009)
Set up early 2006 by Paul Swann and Anita Garnett, this brewery is on the outskirts of Ulverston, in a building that once housed the winding gear for the Lindal Moor Mining Company. The original inspiration was the sad closure of the Hartley's Brewery in Ulverston and to produce a replacement for the locally brewed and much loved Hartleys XB. The 5 Barrel plant came from the closed Whitley Bridge Brewery and has been used to creat a wide range of beers appealing to as many different palates as possible, and they are mostly named in tribute to one of Ulverston's most famous sons: Stan Laurel, denoting the best-known moments from Laurel & Hardy films. Main beers are Another Fine Mess 4% (pale) , Laughing Gravy 4% (light copper), Lonesome Pine 4.2% (pale honey), Stout Ollie 4.3% (stout) and Harvest Moon golden ales 4.2% and the newer, highly popular, Flying Elephants golden ale, 3.7%. Watch out for seasonals or specials.
Pump clips show the official logo of the town of Ulverston. this article on the BBC news page!!
A light ale, “Bridies Brew” was brewed twice in April to help publicise the “save Greenodd post office” campaign, (Bridie is the post office dog). Another Fine Mess, Laughing Gravy and Lonesome Pine are all now available in bottles (available in Booths supermarkets).

Watermill, Ings (Updated April 2009)
The new brewery, which can be seen from inside the pub, is now in production. The copper clad showpiece brewery was allegedly originally built at the New Jersey state correctional facility in 1997/8 and was first used at the 'Hops Brew Pub' in Florida.

Six beers are now in regular production: Collie Wobbles 3.7% - originally described as a gentle, tasty golden mild, but not classed as a bitter; three varied best bitters - A Bit'er Ruff 4.1%, Ruff Justice 4.2%, A Winters Tail 4.3%, and Dogth Vader, a strong bitter 5.1%. There are also two golden ales - Isle of Dogs 4.5%; W'Ruff Night 5% and Blackbeard - a mild of 3.8%.
Beer names have a play on 'words to do with dogs' theme.
Sad loss last year, of the delightful, gentlemanly, Alan Coulthwaite, who set up the pub with its focus on quality ales and whose dream it was to brew. His son Alan brought the dream to fruition!

Whitehaven Brewing Company Ltd (Updated April 2009)
The brewery is a 10 barrel plant in a barn at Croasdale and is now in operation. The location is stunning and comes with its own soft, pure and delicious fell water. See the article in What Ales Autumn 2007 (pdf download) for further details. But please note the error in it: Peter Laws is not a partner; he was a consultant.
Peter, (ex-Jennings Head Brewer) worked with Barrie Roberts, to design the first regular beer, Ennerdale, 3.7%, which is golden in colour, using 3 hops and 2 barleys. Regular beers - Ennerdale Blonde 3.9%, Ennerdale Copper 3.8%, Darkest Ennerdale 4.2%- are usually available at the Brook, Cleator, The Parkside, near Frizington, The Fox & Hounds, Ennerdale and the Vagabond, Whitehaven ... and many other places. Now selling to 40+ pubs from Staveley to Waberthwaite, and from Maryport across to Keswick. Marketing seems to be good!.
The new mild, Ennerdale Breeze, 3.9%, is now brewed and going out to pubs this week (27th April); the Vagabond and The Parkside are the first local pubs to try it.
It's a golden mild, with a really refreshing sweetish taste. Although there isn't an overwhelming hop aroma, there is sufficient taste to provoke interest. The brewery are keen to hear what people think about it!