A Lake District Beer Guide

Coniston Brewery Co and Bluebird Bitter

This hidden gem is tucked away just behind the Black Bull in Coniston. Run by Ian Bradley, it’s the home of the famous Bluebird Bitter, creating pure liquid gold, and presenting not one, not two, but eight fabulous beers to sample.

The Bluebird Bitter is 3.6% and won the Supreme Champion Beer of Britain in 1998 at the Great British Beer Festival. Since then it has continued to be a champion beer with numerous accolades over the years. The beautiful bitter hosts Maris Otter pale malt and crystal malt with challenger hops which presents a spicy and floral taste. Exceedingly pale, with just a hint of colour in its cheeks from the dash of crystal malt, it gives off an array of orangey fruit aromas, and is balanced out by a biscuit malt.

Windermere Brewing Company

The award winning micro brewery based at The Watermill pub, is well worth a visit – the owners are passionate about real ales and brew 14 beers on site, even if you’re not a fan of real ale reading the names is always entertaining (Brew’Dolph being a Christmas favourite!) and the food is worth the trip!

Unsworths Yard Brewery

This family owned brewery is located in the heart of Cartmel which is renowned for it’s food scene and just 13 miles from Bowness on Windermere – you’ll find much more than just a brewery if you pay a visit!

Alongside Unsworths Brewery and bar you can now find a cheese shop, pizzeria, wine shop and small plates restaurant. From Spring to Autumn you’ll find live music playing in the courtyard most weekends.

The brewery boasts an open-door brewhouse separated from the tasting room bar and shop only by large windows where visitors are encouraged to view the beer making process, ask questions and taste the cask beer available from the bar.

Keswick Brewery and ‘The Thirst Run’

After years of venturing out to find the perfect location, the owners finally found a picture-perfect building in 2005, where the Keswick Brewery Company was born. The first produced beer was ‘Thirst Run’, a golden pale ale of 4.2%, which is now the breweries best seller. Since having the premises, they discovered that they are the oldest brewery known to have been in the area.

The assortment of beers range from the regulars, seasonal and specials. Every single drink has a unique recipe, unlike any other – but have all been created to complement each other, with unique characteristics. By combining Maris Otter Pale ale malt and coloured malts, with English and other hops; this allows for consistency and high quality production.

The brewery offer tours to the public, where you can find out much more about the company, how they brew and even sample the marvellous beers. The area has original traditional features, with flagged floor beams, original sandstone and a cosy wood burning stove. Why not get a pint of the home-grown delights, take a seat in the Flying Fox Bar and relax?

The Lake District has lots to offer visitors, with the beers brewed here being unlike any other. But as much as we can inform you on the places and tastes, you can only try for yourself to truly know.

If you’re looking for high quality self-catering accommodation in Windermere, to make your base during your stay, Windermere Marina Village is located in the heart of the Lake District.

Please feel free to get in touch, or browse our range of apartments and cottages online; where you can also book directly. We look forward to welcoming you to our stunning site with a refreshing cold beer on the terrace of the Marina View Restaurant and Bar.