The Good Beer Guide 2021 features three listings from the Keswick area, with The Wainwright the only pub in the town to make the latest ‘bible’ of the best places to get a decent pint of real ale in the UK.
Joining The Wainwright in the 47th annual edition of the Good Beer Guide, to be published on 29th October, is Keswick Brewery and The Scafell Hotel in the Borrowdale Valley the 47th annual edition, which gives is the definitive rundown of the UK’s to real ale outlets, from cosy country inns to upmarket-style bars. It also lists every real ale brewery in the UK and all of their beers.
Hugh Price, of Keswick, who is a member of the West Cumbria branch of CAMRA, which covers the town.
CAMRA is a non-profit-making consumer pressure group which fights to protect traditional British real ale and pubs.
“Pubs are surveyed and voted on for entry in the guide by volunteer members of the local branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and the only criterion is the consistent high quality of the beers on handpumps in the outlets,” said Hugh.
“Unlike gassy keg or pressurised ‘craft’ beers, real ale requires highly skilled cellarmanship to keep it in good condition and part of this expertise is ensuring that there is a quick throughput of barrels and that not too many ales are on offer,” he added.
The Wainwright pub, which mountain-themed and has a good reputation for food and drinks, sells Fell Tinderbox IPA, Wainwright beer from Banks’ Brewery in Wolverhampton plus five other changing ales, and cider is also made on site.
Up the valley at Rosthwaite in Borrowdale, the recently refurbished Scafell Hotel’s Riverside Bar sells Jennings Night Vision and six changing ales. “This fine hotel has been listed in many editions of the Guide.
This outlet is worthy of a special mention as it has now been in the same safe private hands for the last 50 years and they keep an excellent pint of traditional ale as well as good food,” said Hugh.
The Keswick Brewery, in Brewery Lane, is also listed in the guide. It is built on the site of a brewery that closed in 1897 and is owned by Sue Jefferson, who founded the business in 2006. The outlet brews no less than 11 ales, with new beers coming along regularly.
Following major works and investment at the brewery over the last two years, it has been expanded and now has a new bar, The Tap Room, open to the public.
The brewery is built of local slate in the style of an oast house, a traditional building used for drying hops for the brewing industry.
