Beer-wine

The brewery which operated under this name in Tregony ceased operations during 1998. However, the equipment was sold on and Keltek is now reincarnated in Lostwithiel. It is now being run primarily by Andy White of Cask Force. It is a two-and-a-half barrel brew plant with two 5-barrel fermenters, set up in what once was the cleaning department of the Dairy Crest creamery. The first two beers (see below) are produced using Tuckers' malt and Cascade and Hersbrucker hops. Occasional beers also appear from the same plant under the name 'Castle Ales', the most popular example being Battle Ale at 4.2%.

Beer ABV %
Golden Lance 3.8
Magik 4.2
King 5.1
Revenge 7.0
4K Mild 3.8

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One of Cornwall's newest breweries, Lizard started full-time brewing late last year from premises in St. Keverne on the Lizard peninsula. Brewer Richard Martin is now brewing regularly, with three ales available in certain outlets in the area, although the number of pubs taking his beer is slowly growing. Kernow Gold and Lizard Bitter, both around 4%abv, were the first two brews. The brewery has recently introduced a third brew, a strong Cornish ale called An Gof (5.2%). Named after the smith who led the 1497 rebellion, it is appropriately dark and smoky.

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A new brewery recently set in operation, in premises on the Bochym Industrial Estate near Cury Cross Lanes on the Lizard peninsula. It was set up by Andy Haymer , who considers his niche in the market to lie with organic beers. Using only organically-produced raw materials, he has now got accreditation from the Soil Association, and can only label it organic if the beer is sold straight from the cask in full view of the customer. The first beer to appear was a light-coloured ale at 4% abv called Lizard Point Bitter, followed closely by a second beer at 4.5%abv, named Serpentine after the distinctive green rock characteristic of the Lizard peninsula and described as a ruby ale. A third recipe, Wolf Rock (5%) appeared at the turn of last year, while a stout version called Black Rock has also appeared and sells well when it does. A new source of organic hops has now been located, and Andy is pondering how best to use these in his brewery. Some of the beers may be available in bottle-conditioned form during the summer months.

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A relatively new brewery in the north east of the county, the Ring o'Bells, started up near Launceston in 1999, but ceased brewing for a while through planning difficulties at the 10-barrel plant at North Hill. A spell of contract brewing on Cottage Brewery equipment in Somerset tided the brewery over while alternative accommodation was sought. The brewery logo is a pig (they had a pot-bellied porker named Monty as mascot, sadly recently demised), so there is a porcine theme to the ales. The brewery is apparently named after a local pub which closed over 80 years ago when the landlord's son died after being run down by a horse (or perhaps a pig?). The brewery is turning out several 'regular' ales across the strength spectrum from its premises in Launceston, and comes out with the odd 'seasonal' of which the summer-only Surf Boar (4.0%) is an example.

Beer ABV%
Porker's Pride 3.8 (a pale ale)
Bodmin Boar 4.3 (a darker premium beer)
Drekly 4.8
Tipsy Trotter 5.0
Sozzled Swine 5.5
Farmer's Dray 5.5
Surf Boar (summer) 4.0
Santa Boar (Xmas) 5.5

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The St. Austell Brewery was set up in 1851 by maltster and wine merchant Walter Hicks. It is Cornwall's major brewer and is now on a regional scale, owning pubs outside the county as well as around a quarter of the Cornish total. It remains a family business, selling real ale to all its 150 pubs. A further 600 free trade outlets are supplied directly from the brewery. St. Austell also distributes Carlsberg-Tetley products under contract, and re-creates beers from the now-closed Ferguson's Brewery of Plympton, Devon.

Beer ABV %
IPA 3.4
Tinners' Ale 3.7
Dartmoor Best 3.8
Black Prince 4.0
Tribute 4.2
HSD 5.0
Seasonal Beer
(occasional) varies

A 5% wheat beer produced for the first Celtic Beer Festival in December 1999 is still being sold in bottle-conditioned form as Clouded Yellow.

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Another relatively new brewery to Cornwall, established in 1994 by Bill Sharp at Pityme, near Rock. It currently supplies more than 300 outlets both within and outside the county, and has recently completed an expansion to increase capacity. As well as its standard portfolio of brews, Sharp's produces blended 'house beers' for a few Cornish pubs, including the Maltsters' Arms at Chapel Amble and the Countryman at Piece near Redruth, the last one being called 'No-Name' because the locals failed to think of a suitable name for it!

Beer ABV %
Cornish Coaster 3.6
Doom Bar Bitter 4.0
Eden Ale 4.2
Own 4.4
Special Ale 5.2
Will's Resolve
(son of eclipse special Elevenses) 4.6

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This family-run brewery was founded by Steve and Sarah Skinner in July 1997. The ales are mostly named after characters from Cornish folklore - they are described in detail on Skinner's own Web site. As well as the standard portfolio of 6 ales of varying degrees of strength and taste, the brewery is also in the business of seasonal and special beers, including one for the solar eclipse of August 1999 - still extant as Lights Out. Also recently introduced are bottled versions of Betty Stogs and Cornish Knocker - the 1998 Supreme Champion Beer of the Southwest. The brewery also supplies 'house beers' to a few pubs, mostly made from blends of the regular portfolio, such as Pirates' Pride for the Alexandra in Penzance or Tallack Tipple for the Queen's Arms in Botallack, as well as a bit of rebadging of e.g. Coastliner as Tresco Tipple for the New Inn on Tresco. Recently introduced are a couple of new beers: Terry's Ale, named in memory of Skinner's stalwart and long-term CAMRA member Terry Walker, who sadly died in a road accident just before Xmas 2002, and Keel Over, brewed specially for the new maritime museum in Falmouth. Terry's Ale, interestingly, incorporates Cascade and Mount Hood hops, and comes in at a dangerously quaffable 5% abv.

Beer ABV%
Coastliner 3.4
Spriggan Ale 3.8
Betty Stogs Bitter 4.0
Cornish Knocker Ale* 4.5
Figgy's Brew 4.5
Cornish Blonde (wheat beer) 5.0
Terry's Ale 5.0
Lights Out (available March-April) 5.0
Jingle Knockers
(Xmas special) 5.5
Skilliwidden
(available Feb but not this year) 5.0
Terry's Ale 5.0
Betty's Mild (available May) 4.0
Mazey Ale (for the Penzance Golowen Festival) 4.3

* Also available as Cornish Knocker Golden Ale, conditioned in bottle.

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Brand new brewery set up in 2001 at Higher Trenoweth on St. Mary's. The beers appear regularly at, among other places, the New Inn on Tresco and the Mermaid, in Hugh Town on St. Mary's. Three regular ales, with a fourth appearing in summer to celebrate the islands' status as an area of outstanding natural beauty, and a fifth appearing as a Christmas 'special'.

Beer ABV %
Maiden Voyage 3.8
Three Sheets 4.2
Scuppered 4.7
Natural Beauty (summer special) 4.2

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Started by sculptor Peter Martin in the lean-to shed at the back of the Seven Stars Inn in Stithians, this must be the tiniest plant in the county, producing only 50 litres (88pt) at a time - 'more of a nano-brewery than a micro', says Peter. After much experimentation, the brews are settling down to a total of three: an ordinary bitter at around 4%abv, still to be perfected but probably to be called Tucker's Ale after a well-known but late character of the village; Stithians Golden Ale at 4.5%abv, and a dark brew called Pete's Porter which, it is said, can hold its own against some better known dark stouts and porters. Availability at the pub is still intermittent because the beer sells out faster than it can be brewed, but the idea is to get ahead in production so that it becomes available nearly all the time.

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Historic thatched brew-pub, possibly the oldest in the UK, originating as a monks' resting place in the 15th century. It produces powerful ales known locally as 'Spingo'. The brewery has recently undergone complete refurbishment and the pub is also due for improvement, with careful attention being paid to preserving its special character. A beer garden was added in 1999.

Beer ABV %
Middle* 5.0
Best 5.3
Special* 6.6
Bragget (Town charter celebration ale - summer only)* 6.0
Easter & Xmas Special 7.6

* Also available in bottle conditioned form.

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Established in what was once the rescue kennels at Startrax Pets' Hotel in Scorrier, near Redruth. Proprietors Ian and Wendy Spencer-Brown had been looking to diversify from the animal operation, and got together with Cornwall CAMRA's Steve Willmott to convert one of the kennel blocks into a 5-barrel capacity brewhouse. The brewing equipment was purchased second hand and came from a redundant brewhouse, the Flea & Firkin, in Middlesborough - an omen in itself, reckons Steve! Naturally, the brewery was named Doghouse, and all three of its first beers have a doggy theme, as do the many seasonal and 'house' brews they produce for pubs (the Blisland edition is called 'Old Arfer'!).

Beer ABV %
Wet Nose 3.5
Doghouse Biter 4.0
Bow Wow 5.0
Corgi 4.5
Dingo (lager) 5.0
Seasonal beers also appear (vary)

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Gordon Treleaven of the Driftwood Spars Hotel in St. Agnes took the opportunity afforded by the Royal Inn at Horsebridge in Devon losing its brewer, and bought their equipment lock, stock and barrel. Supplemented by a stainless steel bulk milk tank and pump, the one-barrel plant is installed in the old fish and chip shop across the road. Experimental brewing by owner Gordon Treleven eventually led to a production brew Cornish Cuckoo Ale, with an abv of 4.0%, although the locals apparently ask enthusiastically for 'a pint of Gordon's'! Recently Gordon has bought a bigger plant, which has enabled him to stabilise the brews with more precision

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