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Louth Beer Tour: From Historic Pubs to Modern Taprooms
Today, my journey leads me to Louth, a charming Georgian market town commonly known as the “Capital of the Wolds.” This town is located at the foot of the Wolds, where they meet the Lincolnshire Marsh. The River Lud meanders softly through the town, and the Greenwich Meridian line is indicated on Eastgate. During my visit, I had the opportunity to explore four breweries and brewery taps, in addition to a variety of scenic and historic pubs. I concluded my day in Grimsby with a visit to “Docks Beers.”
Ye Olde Whyte Swanne
My initial visit in Louth was to “Ye Olde Whyte Swanne”, the town’s oldest public house, established in the early 1600s and designated as Grade II listed. Upon my arrival, I was greeted by traditional low-beamed ceilings, authentic fireplaces, and a genuinely warm reception. The interior features several small, inviting rooms, while the expansive beer garden at the rear is truly remarkable, extending from the side of the establishment to the back. It is beautifully adorned with vibrant plants.
The establishment features a great assortment of cask and keg beers. There are consistently two beers available, in addition to two rotating guest options. I chose the “Vocation & Friends with……Boundary,” a collaboration between Vocation Brewery and Boundary Brewery, which is based in Belfast. This beverage is a delightful, crisp, and juicy hazy pale ale.
Cobbles Bar
My second visit to Louth took me to “Cobbles Bar”. Tucked away on a side street, this charming corner pub presents an appealing façade. Upon entering, I was greeted with a warm welcome from the staff behind the bar. The outdoor seating available around the premises is an added advantage, particularly during pleasant weather.
Upon my arrival, I discovered that a cask beer was offered, alongside various keg selections, one of which was Theakstons Old Peculiar. I opted for the cask beer, specifically “Harvest Pale,” produced by Castle Rock Brewery located in Nottingham. This ale is characterized by its delightful crispness and citrus notes. A notable feature of the bar was the innovative use of a Lancia engine serving as a T-bar for the keg lines.
Munyard Brewery and Taproom
My third visit in Louth involved a pleasant 30-minute walk from the town centre to the Fairfield Industrial Estate, home to “Munyard Brewery”. I received a warm and gracious welcome from Oliver, the owner and brewer. Upon entering, I was greeted by an impressive bar that features both cask and keg beers, all brewed in close proximity, allowing customers to view the brewing equipment. The interior boasts a well-designed seating area, complemented by pallet seating outdoors. The brewery frequently hosts live music and pop-up food events, which tend to attract a lively crowd. This establishment is certainly worth a visit if you find yourself in the vicinity.
In addition to their own selections, a variety of guest beers and ciders are also offered. Oliver conducted a guided tasting of the current lineup, which was particularly enjoyable as it allowed for a side-by-side comparison of the same beer served from both cask and keg. I began with the “Fosse IPA,” a flavourful and delightful IPA available in both cask and keg formats. Next, I sampled “The Helles Have Eyes,” a Helles Lager, followed by “Patchwork Pale Ale,” a wonderfully hoppy pale ale, and concluded with “My Father” on cask, a delightful English Bitter. The guest beers include selections from Docks Beers and East London Brewing Company.
The Woolpack Inn
A further stroll to the eastern boundary of Louth leads me to “The Woolpack Inn”, which is owned by Batemans Brewery. This charming Grade II listed establishment, situated adjacent to the canal, is a classic coaching inn that has its origins in 1770, coinciding with the inauguration of the Louth canal and its inland seaport. Upon my arrival, I was greeted with a warm welcome from the bar staff and presented with an excellent variety of cask ales. The interior features a snug, traditional seating area, complemented by a lovely beer garden located at the side and rear of the building.
The bar featured a variety of six cask ales, five of which were sourced from Batemans. I chose to sample “Dark M,” a delightful Dark Mild, a style that I particularly appreciate and is unfortunately not frequently encountered.
The Gas Lamp
A brief five-minute stroll led me to “The Gas Lamp”, home to the Firehouse Brewery. This establishment was previously the offices of the “Louth Gas Company,” with origins tracing back to approximately 1824. It is one of only about 22 pubs in the United Kingdom still illuminated by gas lamps, and it preserves several original features, such as curved windows and external sandstone detailing. Upon entering, I was greeted by a beautifully cosy and inviting room that houses the bar and seating areas, adorned with various historical artifacts and photographs. I received a warm welcome upon my arrival. It truly is a hidden gem.
I was offered an impressive array of five cask ales, all crafted on the premises, in addition to their own lager and several ciders. I began with the “Woodman Pale Ale,” a delightful and smooth golden pale ale. Subsequently, I chose to sample “Barrel 47,” a remarkable traditional English Bitter, rich in flavour.
The Consortium
A brief 20-minute stroll back to Louth Town Centre leads me to my next visit which is to “The Consortium”, a charming micropub nestled within a quaint courtyard. Established in June 2017, I had the pleasure of visiting this establishment in 2018. It features a delightful outdoor seating area that is sheltered, as well as a warm and welcoming interior. A fantastic warm welcome in here today.
The pub offers an excellent variety of cask and keg beers, most of which are produced at their own brewery and distillery situated in a nearby industrial estate. Additionally, there is a fine selection of canned and bottled beverages available in the refrigerator. My choice of drink today was a cask sour beer named “Pineapple Sour”, a delicious fruity and sour beer. I also sampled “Thanks Pa”, a hoppy strong IPA.
Tap on the Line
A brief stroll led me to “Tap on the Line”, operated by Luda Brewing Co.. Established in 2021, this brewery is situated within an industrial estate in Louth. The venue serves as their taproom, featuring a contemporary and stylish bar. Upon my arrival, I received a warm welcome from the manager today. The outdoor seating area is expansive and complements the indoor ambiance beautifully.
The manager offered a comprehensive overview of the extensive range of beers on offer, highlighting an array of styles and alcohol content. Faced with the challenge of making a choice, I decided to sample a tasting paddle. My initial selection was “Stingray,” a hoppy and hazy New England Pale Ale that proved delightful. For my second choice, I chose “Voulez Brew,” a tart and sour beer infused with Raspberry and Lemon. I concluded my tasting experience with “Funky Slice,” an exceptionally flavourful American IPA.
The establishment derives its name from the Greenwich Meridian line, which traverses Louth (I have included a photograph of the plaque located on Eastgate). Notably, “Luda” was the ancient Latin designation for Louth, attributed to its proximity to the Lud, a small stream formed by the confluence of two rivulets.
The Wheatsheaf Inn
My final visit in Louth was to “The Wheatsheaf Inn”, a charming and picturesque pub located near St. James’ Church, which boasts the tallest spire of any medieval parish church in England, reaching a height of 295 feet. This pub, dating back to the 16th century, is among the oldest structures in the town. Upon entering, I was greeted with a warm welcome today. The establishment features several smaller, traditional rooms that exude a cozy and inviting atmosphere, most of which are equipped with a fireplace (though it was not lit during my visit). Additionally, there is a delightful beer garden situated at the rear.
I was offered a great variety of cask ales, among which the house specialty, “Tipsy Toad,” caught my attention. This particular ale, crafted by Lincolnshire Craft Beers, is a delightful, light, and refreshing pale ale that I chose to enjoy.
I visited Grimsby and Cleethorpes in March this year. CLICK HERE to read the blog.
Docks Beers
Upon my return to Grimsby, I had the opportunity to meet with Stuart, the Sales Manager at “Docks Beers”, and we proceeded to the brewery. I had first visited this establishment in March and was thoroughly impressed. Stuart graciously guided me through the venue, including the Academy, which serves as a music and gig space. The Academy is remarkable and retains the original character of the church. The building was previously known as the “Mission Church of St Barnabas” before its transformation into a brewery in 2018.
During my visit, I sampled several of their beers, including Paloma’s Faith, 101 IPA, and Red Sky at Night, all of which were delightful and easy to enjoy. It was a pleasure to engage in conversation with Stuart and Kitty Morris, and I hope to encounter both of them again in the future. Additionally, I had the opportunity to meet some of the owners, managers, and brewers during my time there.
Mockingbird operates a food stall outside, allowing patrons to place orders for consumption at Docks Beers. Since its inception in 2021, Mockingbird Streetfood has been characterized as “Disrupting the world of chicken and ‘mock’ chicken.” This independent establishment offers a delectable selection of chicken and vegan-chicken fast food, originating from its inaugural location in Grimsby at Docks Beers. I sampled several items from the menu, and each was exceptionally flavourful and satisfying. The experience was certainly worth the investment. If you visit, be sure to order something!
Micropub Adventures 