Brewery Tours
Historic breweries, coppers gleaming under oak-timbered ceilings and mystic brews frothing in antique stone 'squares', micro breweries with state-of-the-art stainless steel. Today's dedicated British brewers are busily producing over 2,000 varieties of real ale - for you to enjoy!
Take your pick of tours nationwide - a visit to Fuller's in Chiswick starts in their friendly pub. Magnificent Shire horses delivered barrels in Victorian times; see their descendents at Youngs in Wandsworth, and Yorkshire's Samuel Smith's. In a glorious mix of old and new, the Black Isle Brewery in Ross-shire is high-tech micro brewing in a heritage setting - and they use organic hops and barley. 'Research' your favourite flavour - taste a Fursty Ferret from Hall & Woodhouse, sip a Boondoggle or Old Thumper from Ringwood. Learn the language of the malts: caramel crystal, dark-roasted chocolate - they smell delicious.
The cooper - the craftsman making classic wooden barrels - has a hard apprenticeship, and any graduating at Theakston's celebrates with a 'bath' in a barrel of beer.
The Ploughman's lunch - a glass of cool ale, tangy regional cheese and perhaps a pickled onion or two is the ideal lunch for a day exploring, or a 'Pie and a Pint' - tasty, restorative food. However you enjoy your beer, it's a taste to savour!
Other Brewery Tours
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