Hop, Clip, & Pump

When the evenings stretch longer, and the air carries that unmistakable warmth of summer, the right drink makes all the difference. For those looking to enjoy the moment without the weight of a full-strength cider, this is an easy recommendation. Westons Cider have built a global reputation for quality, rooted in traditional methods and generations of expertise. Their low-alcohol offering,  Stowford LA,  brings that same craftsmanship into a lighter, more flexible format, with an alcohol content of less than 0.5% ABV. A Lighter Take on a Classic This is not a compromise, but a considered alternative. Medium-sweet and effortlessly drinkable, Stowford LA is best served well chilled, ideally over ice , where its crispness and gentle fruit character come into their own. It’s the kind of drink that suits a relaxed garden evening, a barbecue, or simply unwinding at the end of a warm day. Crafted the Westons Way What sets this cider apart is its production. Like its full-str...

Recognition in the beer world comes in many forms, awards, loyal followings, word of mouth, but there is something particularly satisfying about seeing a brewery acknowledged beyond its usual circles. So, congratulations are due to Thornbridge Brewery for achieving just that. To be featured in The Guardian’s Saturday supplement is no small thing. To be written about by Matthew Fort,  whose Around Britain With A Fork series combines insight, wit, and a genuine appreciation for British food and drink, is something else entirely. A Voice That Carries Weight Matthew Fort is not a writer given to empty praise. His work is measured, informed, and rooted in experience, making his endorsements all the more meaningful. When a beer appears in his column, it is not by accident. It reflects something worth noticing, something that stands out not just within brewing circles, but within the broader landscape of British food and drink. That Jaipur has found its way into that conversatio...

"We’re just folk who love making quality beer." It’s a simple statement, but one that captures the ethos of Abbeydale Brewery with remarkable clarity. There is no pretension here, just a commitment to craft, consistency, and a genuine enthusiasm for brewing. From Home Brew to Sheffield Institution Like many of the best brewing stories, this one begins at home. Patrick Morton started as a home brewer, learning the fundamentals from scratch before gaining experience at Kelham Island Brewery . It was there that the idea of something more permanent began to take shape. Together with his father, he made the decision to invest in a new venture, one that would become Abbeydale Brewery, founded in 1996. From the outset, the aim was clear: to  produce high-quality beer using the best ingredients available , with careful attention paid to every stage of the brewing process. A Brewery Rooted in Place Abbeydale’s identity is closely tied to its surroundings in Sheffield . The ...

Some breweries build their reputation on tradition, others on innovation. Wychwood Brewery has managed to do both, rooting itself in centuries of local brewing while embracing imagination, storytelling, and a distinctly modern sense of identity. Tucked away behind the main street of Witney , in the heart of the Cotswolds , Wychwood is a brewery that understands the importance of place and how to bring it to life. Witney: Bread, Blankets, and Beer Witney has long been associated with its 'three Bs,'  bread, blankets, and beer . For centuries, the town thrived as a centre of blanket-making, powered by the River Windrush, while brewing developed alongside it as an essential part of daily life. Beer here was not simply a luxury, it was woven into the fabric of the town. Inns, taverns, and small breweries served both locals and travellers passing through the Cotswolds, establishing a tradition that continues to this day. Wychwood Brewery stands firmly within that lineage, car...

This wonderful libation has been quenching the masses for centuries, and yet most of us admit to knowing very little about the brewing process. Well, if a visit to a brewery is not in your near future, this article will at least get you on your way to knowing more about one of North America’s favourite beverages. There are two main families of Beer: Ales and Lagers Ale is top fermented and requires much less conditioning time than lager. Ales are generally brewed at higher temperatures (between 15 - 24 °C or 60 - 75 °F) at these temperatures, the yeast will produce a significant amount of esters and aromatic flavours in the ale. This will tend to give Ales 'fruity' or floral compounds. Ales tend to be slightly sweeter than Lagers. Some Styles of Ales include but are not limited to Stout, Barley Wine, Best Bitter and Albier. Lagers are Bottom fermented and require much more conditioning time than Ales. Lagers are the most commonly consumed of the two families. Lager undergoes ...

There is something quietly reassuring about a well-made bitter. In a landscape often dominated by extremes, high ABV, bold hops, and experimental styles, there remains a place for balance, clarity, and tradition. Leeds Best , brewed by Leeds Brewery , sits comfortably in that space. It is a beer that doesn’t seek to redefine the style, but instead to refine it . Brewing Returns to the City Leeds Brewery was established in June 2007, at a time when the city was rediscovering its brewing heritage. Leeds was once home to major brewing operations, most notably Tetley’s, whose presence defined the city’s beer culture for generations. As those heavy industry breweries declined or closed, a gap was left behind, not just in production, but in identity. Leeds Brewery emerged as the city’s only independent brewer , re-establishing a local voice in a place where brewing had long been part of everyday life. Operating on a 20-barrel plant, the brewery produces around 6,000 pints per brew, wi...

Some breweries are defined by scale. Others by innovation. Fyne Ales is defined by place . Set within the traditional farm buildings of Achadunan, near Cairndow , the brewery sits at the head of Loch Fyne , surrounded by the quiet drama of the West Highlands. It is a location that shapes not only the brewery’s identity, but the beer itself. From Milking Parlour to Brewhouse Fyne Ales was established in 2001, transforming a redundant milking parlour into a working brewery. It is a story that feels distinctly Scottish, resourceful, practical, and rooted in the land. The first commercial brew took place on St Andrew’s Day , a fitting beginning for a brewery that would go on to represent Scottish craft brewing on a wider stage. From the outset, there was a clear ethos: produce high-quality beer while minimising environmental impact. The design of the brewery reflects this, integrating with its surroundings rather than imposing upon them. Water, Landscape, and Sustainability Water is cent...

Some beers arrive with names that intrigue before the first sip is even taken. Bête Noire,  French for 'black beast,' suggests something difficult, perhaps even unwelcome. A nuisance. A challenge. Something to be endured rather than enjoyed. Yet the reality, as brewed by Kelham Island Brewery , is quite the opposite. A Name with Teeth The phrase bête noire carries weight. It speaks of irritation, of something persistently troublesome, a personal adversary. It’s an unusual choice for a beer name, particularly one accompanied by a unicorn on the pump clip, a creature more often associated with lightness and myth than menace. Perhaps the name reflects the brewing process itself, an ale that proved difficult to perfect. Or perhaps it’s simply a piece of playful contradiction, a nod to the long tradition of evocative, sometimes ironic naming in British brewing. Whatever the intention, the beer that emerges is far removed from anything troublesome. A Dark Ale with a Gentle N...

Some beers make their mark through boldness; others through balance. Top Totty , brewed by Slaters Ales , belongs firmly in the latter category, a beer that doesn’t shout for attention, but earns it steadily, pint after pint. Behind the playful name lies a brewery with a clear sense of purpose, shaped by family roots, careful expansion, and a commitment to producing consistently high-quality ales. From Eccleshall Beginnings Slaters Ales began life in March 1995, originally known as Eccleshall Brewery. Founded by Ged Slater and Moyra Slater , the operation started modestly, tucked behind the George Hotel in the market town of Eccleshall . It was a classic setup for the era, small-scale, local, and rooted in the traditions of British brewing. Yet even in those early days, the ambition was clear: to produce beers that could stand alongside the best in the country. Demand grew steadily. What began as a local venture quickly gained a wider following, with customers drawn to the reli...