Question 1

What breweries are in Berkshire?

Accepted Answer

Berkshire has over 15 independent craft breweries, spread across the county from Wokingham and Reading in the East to Newbury in the West. You can explore them all on our breweries listing pages.

Question 2

Are there breweries near Windsor / Reading / Wokingham / Maidenhead / Newbury?

Accepted Answer

Yes to all of them. Use our map page to find the breweries closest to you.

Question 3

Which town has the most breweries?

Accepted Answer

Wokingham has the highest concentration of breweries. Wokingham is home to Siren Craft Brew, Elusive Brewing, The Outhouse Brewery and Bearwood Brewing — four well-regarded breweries within a reasonably close distance of each other. Windsor is also a growing hub, with Two Flints, Indie Rabble, and Windsor & Eton all based there.

Question 4

What are the taproom opening hours?

Accepted Answer

Hours vary by brewery and change seasonally. Most taprooms are open Thursday to Sunday, with some — including Siren Craft Brew — open Tuesday through Sunday. A small number, including Stardust Brewery in White Waltham, are open Monday to Friday. Always check the individual brewery listing or the brewery's website before visiting, as hours can change.

Question 5

Are any breweries open on Mondays?

Accepted Answer

Renegade Brewery in Yattendon is open Monday 11am–9pm. Stardust Brewery in White Waltham is open Monday to Friday 10am–6pm. Most other Berkshire taprooms are closed on Mondays.

Question 6

Are any breweries open on Sundays?

Accepted Answer

Several are, including Siren Craft Brew (12pm–7pm), Windsor & Eton Brewery (12pm–8pm), Loddon Brewery (10am–6pm), and Renegade Brewery (9am–5pm). Check individual listings for current hours.

Question 7

Do I need to book a table at a Berkshire taproom?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the brewery. Siren Craft Brew does not require bookings but advises them for larger groups or special seating requirements — you can book via their website. Double-Barrelled Brewery in Reading also offers table bookings. Most smaller taprooms including Elusive Brewing and The Outhouse are walk-in only. Check the individual brewery listing for current booking details.

Question 8

Can I just turn up without booking?

Accepted Answer

At most Berkshire taprooms, yes. Walk-ins are welcome at the majority of venues. For larger groups or weekend visits, it's worth calling ahead to avoid disappointment.

Question 9

Is there parking at Berkshire breweries?

Accepted Answer

Most breweries on industrial estates — including Siren, Elusive, and Bearwood in Wokingham — have on-site parking. Renegade at Yattendon has parking at the farm. Loddon Brewery has parking at Dunsden Green Farm. For breweries in central Windsor — Two Flints and Indie Rabble — on-site parking is not available; street parking nearby is limited. Check the individual listing for directions and parking details.

Question 10

Can I get to Berkshire breweries by public transport?

Accepted Answer

Some are accessible, but many are on industrial estates that require some walking from the nearest stop. For Siren and Elusive in Finchampstead, the Reading Buses Leopard 3 service stops at Hogwood Lane — a short walk from both breweries. Loddon Brewery is a four-minute walk from Dunsden village green, served by the 800 bus between Reading, Henley and High Wycombe. Indie Rabble and Two Flints in Windsor are two minutes from Windsor and Eton Station. Double-Barrelled in Reading is most easily reached by car or taxi from the town centre. Always plan ahead and check individual listings pages for location and directions.

Question 11

Can you drink at the breweries, or is it takeaway only?

Accepted Answer

All Berkshire brewery taprooms with a bar serve beer on-site for drinking in. All also sell cans and bottles to take away. A few breweries do not have a taproom or a shop however, so always check individual listings before visiting.

Question 12

What beers do they serve?

Accepted Answer

Each taproom serves beers brewed on-site, including core range beers and rotating seasonal or limited edition releases. Most taprooms have between 8 and 12 taps. To see what's currently pouring, check the brewery's Untappd page before visiting — most Berkshire breweries are verified venues on Untappd.

Question 13

Can I buy cans and bottles to take away?

Accepted Answer

Yes — all Berkshire taprooms sell cans and bottles to take home. Several also offer growler fills, including Siren Craft Brew, which has 10 tap lines and offers growler fills with a loyalty card.

Question 14

Do they serve food at the taproom?

Accepted Answer

Many do — but not all. Siren Craft Brew serves in-house pizza Tuesday to Thursday, Burger Society on Fridays, and rotating street food on weekends. Double-Barrelled has street food vendors every weekend. Renegade Brewery has a full kitchen serving a seasonal menu daily. Loddon Brewery has an on-site kitchen (Proper Kitchen) serving fresh local produce. Delphic Brewing, Two Flints, and Indie Rabble (Gabriel's Pizza) also offer food. Some smaller taprooms — including Elusive and The Outhouse — do not currently serve food. Check individual listings for current food arrangements.

Question 15

Which Berkshire craft breweries offer gluten-free, vegan, and inclusive beer options?

Accepted Answer

Catering to dietary requirements has become a cornerstone of the modern Berkshire craft beer scene, with several local breweries adjusting their production methods to offer fully certified gluten-free (GF) and vegan-friendly beers without compromising on complex flavor profiles. Renegade Brewery (Yattendon): Renegade has established itself as a regional leader in dietary inclusivity, focusing on crafting beers that are both gluten-free and vegan-friendly. The brewery utilizes advanced Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing in its on-site laboratory. This scientific testing ensures complete batch consistency, verifying that the beers are entirely free from spoilage, secondary fermentation, and gluten trace elements before they leave the facility. Siren Craft Brew (Finchampstead): Siren offers a dedicated line of certified gluten-free beers. This includes their flagship session IPA, Lumina, as well as Siren Pils (a gluten-free modern lager) and The Pilot (a gluten-free hazy pale ale). These beers undergo enzyme treatment during fermentation to reduce gluten levels to well below the legal 20 parts per million (ppm) threshold, making them safe for coeliacs. Phantom Brewing Co. (Reading): Phantom is highly regarded in local forums for its progressive stance on brewing, regularly canning and serving high-quality gluten-free IPAs, pale ales, and sours crafted from premium hops and alternative grains. Double Barrelled Brewery (Reading): In addition to producing vegan-friendly core beers, the Double Barrelled taproom consistently stocks a rotating, curated selection of gluten-free guest beers, ensuring diverse dietary options are always available on tap and in their fridges.

Question 16

Are dogs allowed?

Accepted Answer

Most Berkshire taprooms are dog friendly. Siren Craft Brew explicitly welcomes well-behaved dogs and has water bowls and treats available. Two Flints, Indie Rabble, Bearwood, Renegade, and Loddon are also all dog friendly. Check the individual listing to confirm before visiting.

Question 17

Are children allowed?

Accepted Answer

Most taprooms welcome children. Siren is family friendly. Two Flints welcomes children until 7pm. Indie Rabble is child friendly. Renegade has a children's menu. Loddon has a large outdoor space suitable for families. The Outhouse Brewery in Wokingham does not allow under 21s inside the bar area, but children are welcome to sit outside with adult guests. Always check the individual listing for any age restrictions.

Question 18

What are the best brewery tours, timings, and ticket prices in and around Berkshire?

Accepted Answer

Berkshire is home to several highly rated brewery tour experiences, offering behind-the-scenes access to advanced production facilities and guided tutored tastings. Double Barrelled Brewery (Reading): Located on Stadium Way, Double Barrelled hosts 90-minute brewery tours and tastings every Saturday at 13:00 for £18.50 per person. The experience covers the history of brewing in Reading, the science of raw ingredients, a walk-through of the packaging lines, and a tutored tasting of four core beers. Bookings can be made online, and both corporate tours and gift vouchers are available. Siren Craft Brew (Finchampstead): Operating from the Hogwood Lane Industrial Estate, Siren hosts guided tours every Saturday. Visitors can purchase a physical tour voucher online for £30, which is valid for two people. Tours depart from the Siren Tap Yard and guide visitors across the estate to the main production facility to explore the brewhouse and fermentation vessel cellars, concluding with guided tastings. Renegade Brewery (Yattendon): Situated at The Old Dairy, Renegade offers guided tours of its countryside production facility for £25 per person. The ticket includes an in-depth tour, two free pints of beer, a 20% retail discount at the brewery shop, and a 10% discount on food in the taproom on the day.

Question 19

When is the next craft beer event in Berkshire?

Accepted Answer

Berkshire breweries regularly host food trucks, comedy nights, quiz nights, beer festivals, and tap takeovers. Check brewery websites for upcoming events, or follow individual breweries on Instagram for the most up-to-date announcements.

Question 20

Which breweries have the most events?

Accepted Answer

Siren Craft Brew, Double-Barrelled, Indie Rabble, and Windsor & Eton are among the most event-active. Siren hosts a running club, community dog walks, quiz nights, board game days, and seasonal festivals. Double-Barrelled regularly runs comedy nights, craft markets, and food and drink pairings. Indie Rabble has a dedicated music stage with regular live music.

Question 21

Where can I find meet-the-brewer events near me?

Accepted Answer

A Hoppy Place in Maidenhead regularly hosts meet-the-brewer evenings and bottle shares. Follow local breweries on Instagram and check our events page for upcoming sessions across the county.

Question 22

What is the Windsor Beer Mile and how can visitors navigate it?

Accepted Answer

The Windsor Beer Mile is a curated craft beer trail launched on Saturday, June 1, 2024, to celebrate the town's growing independent brewing scene. Tucked beneath and around the historic railway arches near Windsor Castle, the mile connects three independent breweries, making it a highly popular weekend activity. The route is easily accessible by public transport. Visitors can arrive at either Windsor & Eton Central or Windsor & Eton Riverside railway stations, both of which are just a few minutes' walk from the main venues. The trail is designed to be completed in a specific order: Stop 1: Windsor & Eton Brewery: Established in 2010, this local favorite serves as the starting point. Its Unit 4 taproom and kitchen offers a 22-line draft selection featuring traditional cask ales and modern keg beers. Stop 2: Indie Rabble Brewing Co.: Located at 27-28 The Arches on Alma Road, this vibrant space was co-founded in August 2023 by the team behind the award-winning bottle shop A Hoppy Place. It features a 20-hectoliter electric brewhouse, 12 rotating draft lines, and fresh sourdough pizza served from Gabriel's Pizza, a vintage Airstream trailer parked outside. Stop 3: Two Flints Brewery: Tucked directly under Windsor Central station, this modern craft brewery won the prestigious "Raise the Bar" award in 2023. It specializes in clean, hop-forward pale ales and hazy IPAs. Visitors can enjoy a pint by the window with views of Windsor Castle, or sit on the cozy mezzanine overlooking the active brewkit. The trail concludes within walking distance of Windsor town center, where visitors can catch a train back to London or Reading.

Question 23

Where can I buy local craft beer without visiting a taproom?

Accepted Answer

Several Berkshire breweries sell online with UK delivery — including Siren Craft Brew, Double-Barrelled, Elusive Brewing, and Renegade. Double-Barrelled's core beers (Parka and Ding) are also stocked in Waitrose, Tesco, and Morrisons. For a curated independent selection, A Hoppy Place in Maidenhead and the Hive Craft Beer & Coffee Shop in Crowthorne are well worth a visit.

Visiting Berkshire Breweries — Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Finding breweries near you

Taproom opening hours

Booking and visiting

What to expect at the taproom

Events and community

Buying craft beer in Berkshire