Berkshire Brewery Guide 2026

Planning a brewery visit or looking to discover the latest craft beer in Berkshire? You're in the right place. The county has quietly built one of the most exciting craft beer scenes outside of London, with a growing cluster of independent breweries, high-quality taprooms, and a real range of styles, from traditional real ales to experimental barrel-aged stouts and hazy NEIPAs.

This is your complete guide to Berkshire's craft breweries in 2026. We cover the full county, organised by area, so you can plan your visit whether you're in Reading, Wokingham, Windsor, Newbury, or Maidenhead.

Berkshire breweries by area

Reading
Maidenhead
Newbury
Windsor
Wokingham

Breweries in Reading

Double-Barrelled Brewery — Reading

Double-Barrelled began as a wedding favour. Co-founders Mike and Luci Clayton-Jones brewed their first batch as a gift for their guests in 2015, then spent a year travelling across the world absorbing beer culture before launching the brewery as a small batch producer from their garage in 2017. The resulting approach is global in its inspiration but deeply local in its execution.

In 2018 the brewery moved from the garage to a warehouse off Portman Road in Tilehurst, Reading, and they've gone from strength-to-strength since, winning the Pride of Reading's Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2019, and being shortlisted for New Brewery of the Year in the 2021 Brewer's Choice Awards.

The taproom is open Thursday to Sunday and regularly hosts street food vendors, comedy nights, and craft markets. The beer range runs from core approachable styles of their four flagship beers (Parka, a 4.5% hazy pale ale; Ding, a 4.9% Keller lager; Rivers, a 3.4% session IPA; and Kitchen Disco, a tropical 5.8% IPA) through to barrel-aged imperial stouts and zingy sours (check out Cherry Vanilla Cake).

Flagship beers: Parka pale ale, Ding lager, Rivers session IPA and Kitchen Disco hazy IPA.

Best for: A social taproom visit — this is a people-friendly, event-led space with something for everyone.

Taproom opening hours: Thursday (5pm to 9.30pm), Friday (4pm to 9.30pm), Saturday (12pm to 10pm) and Sunday (12pm to 6pm). Closed Monday – Wednesday. Brewery tours and tastings run on Saturdays and can be booked from their website.

Loddon Brewery — Dunsden, near Reading

Loddon Brewery is one of Berkshire's most established and decorated independent breweries, based at Dunsden Green Farm near Reading — a proudly independent operation brewing from a beautiful 300-year-old barn. Their 20-barrel brew plant is capable of producing up to 100 brewers barrels per week (around 28,800 pints!), with their beers distributed across the UK while remaining rooted in the local community.

Their award record speaks for itself. Hocus Pocus, their flagship old ale, won National Gold at the SIBA Independent Beer Awards 2026 in the Cask British Dark Beers category — the brewery's most prestigious honour to date, and a strong argument that this is one of the finest dark beers brewed anywhere in the region. In 2020, Hocus Pocus also took Gold at the CAMRA Champion Winter Beer of Britain in the Old Ale and Strong Mild category.

The Taproom at Dunsden Green Farm is well worth a visit in its own right. Seating over 300 people across a main indoor room, a large covered decking area, and a spacious open courtyard, it's one of the most generous and characterful taproom settings in the county. Six rotating beers are on draught at any time, covering special brews, core beers, cider and lager. Food is handled by the Proper Kitchen — a resident kitchen serving dishes made from local produce, from wood-fired pizzas in summer to roast dinners in the winter. There is lots going on with something for everyone.

Flagship beers: Hocus Pocus (award-winning old ale), Ferryman's Gold (pale ale, multiple SIBA medals), Dragonfly.

Best for: A relaxed visit with food, families, walkers, and cyclists — the farm setting and large outdoor space make this one of the most laid-back taproom experiences in Berkshire.

Taproom opening hours: The Tap & Kitchen is open Tuesday to Sunday. Tuesday and Wednesday 10am–6pm, Thursday 10am–8pm, Friday and Saturday 10am–10pm, Sunday 10am–6pm. Closed Monday. Tables can be booked in advance — recommended at weekends when the courtyard fills up quickly.

Also worth knowing: Siren Craft Brew — best known for their Finchampstead brewery and Tap Yard in Wokingham — also operate Siren RG1, a flagship bar on Friars Walk in central Reading, just two minutes from the train station. With 28+ taps and a full food menu, it's a great place to explore Siren's range if you're in town. As a bar rather than a brewery taproom, it sits outside our main listings — but it's well worth a visit.

Breweries in Maidenhead

Stardust Brewery — White Waltham, near Maidenhead

Based in a small unit on a farm estate in White Waltham, just outside Maidenhead, Stardust is a craft micro-brewery producing a wide range of styles — from session beers and hazy pale ales, to stouts, IPAs, and double IPAs. Beers are available to buy direct from the brewery or via their online shop with nationwide delivery.

Visiting the brewery is actively encouraged, though it's worth noting that this is a working brewery rather than a dedicated taproom. Space is limited, with a very small bar and seating area. Nevertheless, they welcome anyone who would like to come and visit during their opening hours to sample and buy beers. Growler fills, 440ml cans and bright beer straight from cask or keg are available.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 10am–6pm.

Best for: Weekday visitors in the Maidenhead area who want to buy direct from the source and sample fresh beer in an informal setting.

New Wharf Brewing Co — near Maidenhead

New Wharf Brewing Co was founded in 2016 by two aspiring homebrewers who decided to share their love for beer and make it official — a familiar origin story, but one backed by a decade of consistent output from their Maidenhead base. New Wharf is a 20-barrel craft brewery situated just outside Maidenhead, Berkshire, in a rural location. The brewery itself is not open to the public; no taproom or brewery tours are available currently.

New Wharf describe themselves as a progressive independent brewery that combines modern techniques with traditional methods. They produce a core range of three beers: a hard-rocking American pale ale bursting with Mosaic hops and tropical fruit (Explorer, 4.3%); a classic amber ale with flavours of toffee and caramel (Voyager, 4.8%) and a premium Helles lager (Lost Soul, 4.2%). New Wharf also produce a rotating range of other styles including stouts, porters, bitters, red ales, IPAs and pale ales.

New Wharf's three core beers can be bought directly online from their website, and — according to Untappd — various venues around Berkshire. Interestingly, A Hoppy Place in Maidenhead — local neighbours to New Wharf — did not stock any New Wharf beers during my last visit, but always worth checking back in future.

Flagship beers: Voyager, Explorer, and Lost Soul.

Also worth knowing: A Hoppy Place is also based in Maidenhead — an excellent craft beer shop and bar with indoor and outdoor seating, a curated local and national selection, and a strong events programme. This is a great place to sample the best craft beers from the county and beyond.

Breweries in Newbury

Delphic Brewery — Newbury

Delphic is one of Berkshire's most compelling brewery stories — and one of the most inspiring examples of what persistence and craft can produce. In 2017, founder-brewer Tom Broadbank started producing small-batch brews from a garage in Thatcham, while working full-time at a local brewery. In May 2019, he expanded the operation from a 50L to 500L brewing kit, secured a commercial brewing licence, and released a classic best bitter, hop-forward pale ales, and a silky milk stout in both cask and keg. Tom survived the turbulence of the pandemic by launching an online shop and doing door-to-door deliveries of 5L casks and other small pack beers.

After outgrowing the garage, Tom found a new space in the heart of Newbury, three minutes' walk from Newbury Station and two minutes from the town centre. After extensive renovation work, Delphic opened the doors to their taproom on Mayors Lane, Newbury, on 6th July 2024.

The taproom offers 3 cask and 10 keg beers — an ever-changing mix of beers brewed on site, along with guest lines, covering lagers, pale ales, IPAs, gluten-free options, sours, stouts, and cider. The space seats around 70 people inside and another 40 outside, is fully wheelchair accessible, and regularly hosts local street food vendors and community events.

Taproom opening hours: Friday 4pm–10pm, Saturday 11am–10pm. Card only. Children and dogs welcome.

Flagship beers: Cherry Bakes Well (6.7% white stout), rotating pale ales and IPAs brewed on site.

Best for: A genuine community taproom with a brilliant origin story — the obvious craft beer destination for Newbury and West Berkshire.

Renegade Brewery — Yattendon Estate, Newbury

Renegade has deeper roots than its modern identity suggests. The brewery was founded in 1995 as a 5-barrel operation behind The Pot Kiln pub, expanded to a 10-barrel brewery in a former village bakery in 1999, then to a 25-barrel brewery near the old dairy in 2005, and further to a 36-barrel brewhouse with a packaging line in 2017. The taproom, kitchen and shop all opened in 2018. In 2021 the brewery was acquired by the Yattendon Group, and in 2022 it was reborn under the Renegade name. Current Head Brewer Will Twomey, who joined as a trainee back in 2007, has been at the heart of the brewery's evolution throughout.

The result of that three-decade journey is one of the most complete brewery experiences in Berkshire. Set at The Old Dairy, Yattendon — deep in the West Berkshire countryside — the setting alone makes the journey worthwhile. The beer range spans both heritage and modern craft styles: core beers include Good Old Boy (best bitter, 4%) and Maharaja (IPA, 5.1%) alongside newer Renegade releases such as Blackguard (nitro stout, 4.1%), Detour (pale ale, 4.1%), and Hazy Rider (NEIPA, 4.8%). Limited edition small-batch releases are a regular fixture, with bold flavours and characterful names. The range is truly broad and covers something for everyone.

The Taproom & Kitchen is fully accessible, dog and child friendly, with space inside, outside, and in a marquee. The kitchen serves freshly prepared food made with locally sourced ingredients across a main menu, Sunday breakfast, dessert menu, and children's menu — with vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options as standard. Table bookings are recommended, particularly at weekends.

Flagship beers: Good Old Boy, Renegade Lager, Detour, Hazy Rider, and rotating limited edition small-batch releases.

Best for: A proper day out with food — the combination of countryside setting, full kitchen, and a wide beer range makes this the most complete all-day brewery visit in Berkshire. Ideal for groups, families, and anyone who wants more than just a pint.

Taproom opening hours: Monday (11am – 9pm), Tuesday–Saturday (11am–Late), Sunday (9am–5pm).

Breweries in Windsor

Windsor has a growing craft beer scene, with a mix of heritage and modern producers. Windsor makes a great location for sampling multiple breweries in one day, with Two Flints and Indie Rabble located together, and just a 10 minute walk from Windsor & Eton Brewery (and its sister brand, Uprising). This means combining multiple breweries in one Windsor visit is easy, and highly recommended!

Windsor & Eton Brewery — Windsor

One of the most established names in the Windsor area, Windsor & Eton Brewery launched in 2010, firmly putting Windsor back on the brewing map and reclaiming its place as a world-renowned brewing town. Windsor & Eton, often referred to as WE Brew for short, produces both traditional and contemporary beers and has a strong local following. Their beers are a staple in the area and a good introduction to the local scene for visitors. There are a number of venues run by the brewery, bringing lots on offer for visitors. The main attraction is at the brewery itself (known as 'The Brewhouse'), which is open for tours, and the adjacent 'Unit 4' Taproom. The Taproom is open 7 days a week serving all the freshest WE brews (22 on tap), plus pizzas by the fabulous Knead.

Alongside this, WE Brew also operates three other venues:

The George, Eton — an 18th Century pub and 8-bedroom inn.
WeBrew Kingston — riverside bar in an idyllic spot on the banks of the Thames.
Craft Corner — a lively bar at the Royal Windsor Racecourse, open Mondays in the summer and selected weekends.

Taproom opening hours: Open 7 days a week. Monday–Thursday (12pm – 10pm), Friday (12pm–11pm), Saturday (10am–11pm) and Sunday (12pm – 8pm).

Flagship beers: Guardsman (best bitter, 4.2%), Knight of the Garter (golden ale, 3.8%), Windsor Knot (pale ale, 4.5%) and Republika (pilsner lager, 4.8%).

Best for: Those wanting lots of choice, food and a big venue at the heart of the Windsor craft beer scene.

Indie Rabble Brewing — Windsor

Indie Rabble describe themselves as the heart of the Windsor Beer Mile since 2023, and they've made quite an impression in a short time. Their taproom is located at 27–28 The Arches, Alma Road, Windsor — just two minutes from Windsor and Eton Central Station and five minutes from the Castle, making it one of the most accessibly positioned taprooms in the county.

The beer output is prolific and restless. Indie Rabble release new beers almost weekly, spanning West Coast IPAs, sours, American pale ales, and DIPAs — all available in cans direct from the taproom and online. Current releases include Walkie Talkie (a 4% American pale ale hopped with Columbus, Centennial and Amarillo), Shape Maths (5.2%), Can of Wyrms (a 6.8% DIPA brewed to celebrate their 100th brew), and Hobby Seahorse (a 4.3% blackberry and vanilla sour). All Indie Rabble beers are naturally vegan.

Their awards record is already building credibility. In 2026 they won a SIBA National Award for Best Marketing Implementation through their range of cask ales — an unusual prize that reflects the thought they put into their brand as well as the beer itself.

The taproom is open Thursday to Sunday, with 12 lines of Indie Rabble beer on draught plus cans to take away. Street food is provided by Gabriel's Pizza — served from an Airstream trailer outside the brewery. The venue is fully accessible, child friendly, and dog friendly.

Signature beers: Walkie Talkie (4% American pale ale), Can of Wyrms (6.8% DIPA), Hobby Seahorse (4.3% blackberry and vanilla sour).

Taproom opening hours: Thursday (5pm–10pm), Friday (4pm–10pm), Saturday (1pm–10pm) and Sunday (1pm–6pm). Closed Monday–Wednesday.

Best for: Windsor visitors wanting a lively, event-packed taproom with frequent new releases and a strong sense of community — live music, comedy, and collaborations are a regular fixture.

Two Flints Brewery — Windsor

Two Flints was founded by Alex Kerr, who first started homebrewing from his flat in Singapore in 2017. Today, Two Flints are a modern, independent brewery, nestled under the same railway arches where Indie Rabble are based, near Windsor & Eton Central station. They have a 'semi-automatic' brewhouse designed for hop-forward beers and lager.

The taproom is split across two levels. The ground floor bar has the full Two Flints range available on draught across 12 taps, rotating guest beers from other UK breweries, plus cider, cocktails, natural wine, and soft/alcohol-free drinks. The mezzanine level provides additional seating and views of the brewery operation from one side, or Windsor Castle from the other! Rotating food trucks operate every weekend.

Taproom opening hours: Thursday (5pm–10pm), Friday (4pm–10pm), Saturday (1pm–10pm), Sunday (1pm–6pm). Children welcome until 7pm. Dogs welcome.

Signature beers: A rotating, seasonal range of hop-forward ales and lagers — check their Untappd tap list before visiting for current pours.

Best for: An atmospheric taproom experience with a large range of brewery-fresh beer available.

Breweries in Wokingham

Wokingham punches well above its weight for craft beer, thanks largely to two highly respected breweries (Siren Craft Brew and Elusive Brewing) that sit right next to each other on the same industrial estate near Finchampstead. Wokingham town is also blessed with two options: The Outhouse Brewery — a microbrewery and bar serving its own and a range of guest beers, and Bearwood Brewery with its recently opened taproom.

Siren Craft Brew — Finchampstead, Wokingham

Siren is the brewery that put Berkshire on the national craft beer map. Founded in 2013 by Darron Anley, they've grown from a small Finchampstead unit into one of the most respected craft breweries in the UK — winning a number of awards including the CAMRA Supreme Champion Beer of Britain in 2018 for their Broken Dream breakfast stout, the 2022 Great Taste Awards for Pastel Pils, Pompelmocello and their flagship IPA Soundwave, 11 winning beers in the 2025 Untappd Community Awards and a Silver Medal in the International Beer Challenge for Soundwave plus a Best-in-Class Trophy for Recurring Dream Breakfast Stout.

What makes Siren special is their range: they brew everything from light session IPAs (Lumina, 4.2%) to intensely complex barrel-aged imperial stouts (such as Origin Story, 10.0%), and they do all of it at a consistently high level. Their Tap Yard is the centrepiece — a lively taproom with indoor and outdoor space, around 10 taps of the freshest Siren beer, regular street food vendors, and a genuine community feel.

Flagship beers: Soundwave IPA (tropical, resinous, subtle bitterness), Broken Dream nitro breakfast stout (coffee, chocolate, lactose — a modern British classic), Siren Pils lager (gluten-free, crisp and refreshing), Lumina session IPA (mango, citrus, endlessly drinkable).

Best for: Beer enthusiasts wanting the full Berkshire craft beer experience in one visit.

Taproom: Open Tuesday – Thursday (10:00 – 21:00), Friday (10:00 – 22:00), Saturday (12:00 – 22:00) and Sunday (12:00 – 19:00). Closed on Mondays.

Elusive Brewing — Finchampstead, Wokingham

Founded in 2016 by Andy Parker — a home brewer who went on to win awards at national level and is now dubbed 'the nicest guy in beer' — Elusive sits on the same Marino Way industrial estate as Siren, making the two an easy pairing on any Wokingham brewery visit. Where Siren trends bold and experimental, Elusive is more West Coast in focus: clean, precise, hop-forward pale ales and IPAs brewed with craft and restraint. Elusive run one flagship beer, a West Coast IPA called Oregon Trail which won the World Beer Awards in 2021, and the rest of production is rotational, meaning there is always something fresh and exciting to try!

Andy is also a published author on homebrewing, which tells you something about the level of technical knowledge behind these beers. Their taproom is open Fridays and Saturdays.

Flagship beer: Oregon Trail, West Coast IPA.

Best for: Lovers of all things West Coast, and those wanting to try something new at every visit.

Taproom: Usually open Friday and Saturday, 12:00 – 20:00, plus the last Thursday of the month 16:00 – 20:00 as a bonus! Brewery tours run on Saturdays at 13:00 and can be booked from their website.

The Outhouse Brewery — Wokingham

The Outhouse Brewery was launched during the pandemic in 2020 by Founder and Head Brewer, Peter Rhodes. The Outhouse is both a microbrewery and a craft beer bar, showcasing the very best independent beers from across the UK, while proudly supporting local producers wherever possible. They brew their own beer, but are equally passionate about highlighting great beers from other craft breweries — from their own creations to carefully selected guest beers, everything served is chosen for quality, freshness, and flavour.

With 10 rotating draft lines and a fully stocked craft beer fridge available to drink in or take away, there's always something new to discover. Alongside beer, they offer a curated range of spirits, wine, cider, and non-alcoholic options, plus light bar snacks.

Worth noting — children are not allowed inside but are welcome to join their adults on one of the outside tables.

Opening hours: Wednesday and Thursday 4:30pm–10pm, Friday 12pm–11pm, Saturday 12pm–11pm, Sunday 2pm–9pm. Closed Monday and Tuesday.

Best for: Those who want to explore a broad range of UK craft beer under one roof — the combination of house beers and carefully chosen guest lines makes this a great introduction to the wider craft scene as well as Wokingham's own brewing output.

Bearwood Brewery — Wokingham

An exciting addition to the Wokingham brewing scene, Bearwood Brewing is another creation from Peter Rhodes, who also founded The Outhouse Brewery. Bearwood operates from Unit 11, Anglo Industrial Park on Fishponds Road just outside the centre of Wokingham.

Bearwood have quickly built a reputation for bold, well-crafted small-batch releases across a range of modern styles. Their beer range demonstrates real ambition. Current releases include Stromberg, a 6.5% NEIPA delivering punchy red berry, juicy stone fruit, and tropical flavours, hopped with HBC 630, Superdelic, and Mosaic; Accomplices, a 5.3% IPA exploring the pairing of Citra and Nelson Sauvin hops; Peach Trees, an 8.2% DIPA showcasing the Peacharine hop with sweet peach and fresh citrus; and Zeddemore, a 5.5% pineapple fruited sour.

Their taproom overlooks the brewery and pours Bearwood's beers alongside a considered selection of guest beers, ciders, and wines, designed for easy, unhurried drinking. They have 20+ taps pouring fresh beer with occasional guest lines alongside. Dog and child friendly — under 18s welcomed until 8pm.

Taproom opening hours: Wednesday and Thursday 4:30pm–10pm, Friday and Saturday 12pm–11pm, Sunday 12pm–8pm. Closed Monday and Tuesday.

Signature beers: Stromberg (6.5% NEIPA), Accomplices (5.3% Citra + Nelson IPA), Peach Trees (8.2% DIPA).

Best for: Modern craft beer enthusiasts who love hop-forward NEIPAs and IPAs — and anyone doing a Wokingham brewery crawl alongside The Outhouse, Siren and Elusive.

Tips for visiting Berkshire breweries

Most taprooms operate on limited hours — many are only open Thursday to Sunday, and some are weekends only. Always check current opening times on the brewery's website before setting off, as these can change seasonally.

A few things worth knowing before you go:

Transport — Several Berkshire breweries (including Siren and Elusive) are on industrial estates that aren't well served by public transport. If you want to do a proper crawl, consider arranging a designated driver or checking whether there's a local taxi service.
Brewery tours — Many breweries offer tours. Double-Barrelled runs guided tours on Saturdays; Siren runs tours on selected dates (book in advance via their website). These are excellent ways to understand how the beer is made.
Try a flight — Most taprooms offer tasting flights of 3–5 beers. It's the best way to explore a range without committing to full pints.
Events — Berkshire breweries regularly host food trucks, comedy nights, beer festivals, and markets. Check their social media or websites for upcoming events.
Bring a tote bag (and a growler if you have one!) — Most taprooms have great can selections to take home, as well as the option to fill up your own growler with brewery-fresh draught beer — well worth it.

Check out our FAQs pages for more helpful tips!