Whether you live in Worcestershire or you’re visiting for the weekend and fancy sampling some local beer, here’s our roundup of some of the best kept secrets in the region.
A few things to cover before we begin…
- There is much debate about the definition of craft beer, so for the purpose of this article, we will be sharing recommendations of breweries and pubs by the people of Worcester who frequent these establishments regularly.
- This is only a snippet of the breweries and bars/ pubs in Worcestershire. In fact, we were amazed by how many amazing places we have on our doorstep. So watch this space for a follow up blog!
Enjoy the 15 we have selected….
1. The Oil Basin Brew House, Worcester
The place to go if you’re looking for friendly banter, a strong community vibe and laid-back vibes. Not to mention the beer. They have five cask ales and 4 craft ales alongside an enviable selection of wines and spirits. Wintrip Brew Co is located on site and Rob, the owner, is always happy to talk about his latest brew. Normal service will resume post- 21st June when they aim to bring back their famed movie, food and music nights.
2. The Beer Emporium, Kidderminster
The friendly and welcoming environment and the knowledgeable owners make The Beer Emporium a popular choice if you’re heading to Kidderminster. Dog and child friendly, you can either join in with their friendly community or sit and have a quite pint with no electronic distractions.
https://www.facebook.com/beeremporiumkidderminster/
3. Triple B Belgian Café Bar, Worcester
If you’re reminiscing about “that” trip to Belgium, this is the place to come. With over 100 beers on their menu, they have something for everyone. Not to mention the Belgian frites and croque monsieur on their food menu which is served until lunchtime. They hold regular tasting events with guest breweries. The next event is Cantillon tasting with 11 varieties, on 27th June. Book in advance to avoid disappointment.
Get 10% off all beer on National Beer Day!
4. Lombard Taproom and Bottle Shop, Stourport
This specialist craft beer taproom and bottle shop in Stourport town centre has a large community following. They’re known for bringing a range of craft beers from UK and International breweries to either drink in or take-away.
5. Fire Fly, Worcester
They were Worcester’s first craft beer bar, when they opened in 2005. Their stock has continued to grow and they offer a huge selection of draught and bottled/ canned beer as well as wines, sprits and vegan food. Check out their open mic nights, film nights and comedy nights.
https://www.thefireflybeerhaus.com
6. Sociable Beer Company, Worcester
Open every Friday from 4pm with their own draft beer, brewed on the premises as well as 10 other craft beers and ciders. With live music, every Friday, there is always a great time to be had.
7. Boat Lane Brewery, Offenham
Dedicated to providing variety and flavour, Boat Lane Brewery are famed for trying out new recipes on a weekly basis. They have over 80 individual beer recipes and always promise something delicious.
Their onsite bar, the Brewery Tap, usually has at least eight ales on draft but they also sell a large variety of their hand-crafted brews in bottles to drink on the premises or take home for a tipple later.
8. Copper Beech Brewing Company, Kidderminster
They describe themselves as an Independent Nano Brewery and produce artisan craft beer with locally grown and sourced ingredients. Their web shop is open once a month for 7 days, where they offer staple favourites as well as new beers with each release, so get in quick!
9. Brew61, Bromsgrove
Located on a farm just outside Bromsgrove, Brew61 have named their beers after the farming environment that surrounds them. The brewers grains are fed to their herd of Highland Cows and the waste hops are used as compost in their vegetable garden. They focus on producing clean tasting beers that are light in taste and colour, inspired by the fresh smells and tastes of countryside on a Spring day .
10. Hop Shed Brewery, Suckley
Originally set up in a converted chicken shed, Hop Shed Brewery describe their beers as “traditional with a modern twist” and they’ve won a few awards since they first started out. All of their beer is made with 100% British Hops, the majority of which are grown on the farm where the brewery is located. Their bottles and mini casks are produced without isinglass so are suitable for Vegans, and their beers are all named after breeds of chickens!
11. Woodcote Brewery, Dodford
Found just outside Bromsgrove in the village of Dodford, Woodcote produce a range of vegan friendly fine ales available in bottles, mini kegs and barrels.
12. Spilsbury & Jones Brewing Co, Stanford Bridge
Located in rural Worcestershire, on the banks of the river Teme, Spilsbury and Jones produce craft beer in small batches, using the hops grown, picked and dried just 166 metres away on their farm.
They’re bucking the craft beer trend and are instead focussing on creating a real craft English lager. They have big plans and are definitely one to follow.
https://spilsburyandjones.co.uk/
13. Bewdley Brewery, Bewdley
Located in the heart of the Worcestershire countryside, alongside the River Severn. They were the first brewery in Bewdley since 1912. They supply local pubs and their bottled beer can be found in shops as well as on their website. Their most famous beer is the William Mucklow, a dark mild 6% ABV.
https://www.bewdleybrewery.co.uk
14. Teme Valley Brewery, Knightwick
A craft producer of cask and bottle-conditioned beers. They began in 1997 but have since expanded and now sell directly to pubs, shops and specialist off-licences across The West Midlands. They have a strong farming origin and pride themselves on only using UK grown malt and hops from Worcestershire and Herefordshire.
15. Hobsons Brewery, Cleobury Mortimer
A local independent brewery, that has grown from a small microbrewery to one of the leading breweries in the region. Their cask and bottle brews have won various awards (including the CAMRA Beer of Britain in 2007 with Hobsons Champion Mild and Water Efficiency Winner at the Blue Marches Business Awards 2020) and they now produce six cask beers and eight bottled beers, plus special limited edition brews.
