Yates Brewery, Westnewton

Ex Jennings head brewer, Peter Yates, and his wife Carol, set up this 11 barrel plant in a converted barn at Ghyll Farm in Westnewton, north Cumbria in 1986. Ready to retire in 1998, they sold it to Graeme and Caroline Baxter, who had previously owned the High Force Brewery in Teesdale. In 2007 a new brewery extension was built and equipped and a reed bed effluent system installed.

They have kept the orginal beers and continued to develop and expand the range and massively increase the availability in many independent outlets. (The brewery does not own any pubs)
Regular beers are Bitter, Fever Pitch, Sun Goddess

An early experiment was a lager style beer which Graeme called Carlisleberg - a very witty take on the lager link and the nearness of Carlisle - but this did not take off. Under its new name, Fever Pitch, it has become one of the most popular beers in Cumbrian free houses. In 2006, Graeme began to focus on producing specials in a range of brewing styles and these were so successful they have been repeated ever since. First was been Genius, a strong, dark stout, followed by IPA and Bees Knees 4.5%. There was also a rich dark special for Hallowe'en called something about Ghouls (since found it this was just Genius under another name!) ! Newest was Mad March Hare 4.3% but IPA 4.9% was on the scene again for summer.
Watch out for Winter Fever and Best Cellar in the winter and the wonderful, glorious Spring Fever 4.5% - in spring!
And not to forget Autumn Fever

Watch out too, for another new special to come, soon in 2008.

Graeme can sell all he brews and all beers are very much liked. He has won many awards over the years, the most recent being IPA taking first in the 2008 Cumbrian Micro's Challenge at Burgundy's Wine Bar in Kendal! Fever Pitch was a runner up at the Champion Beer of Britain in 2004 and is again a contender for 2009, along with Bitter and Sun Goddess

Bottled beers (Bitter, Best Cellar) are really very good and going well at Booths supermarkets.

(updated June 2008)