27/09/24 – Lake District

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Discover Unique Pubs and Breweries in The Lake District

Today I headed to The Lake District, I visited several unique pubs and breweries, starting with The Crafty Baa in Windermere, known for its eclectic décor and impressive drink selection. Next, I explored The Watermill Inn in Ings, home to Windermere Brewing Company, offering a delightful variety of ales. In Kendal, I discovered Lakes Brew Co, Bowness Bay Brewing, The Factory Tap, Indie Craft Beer, Handsome Snuff Bar, The New Union, and Fell Bar. Each venue showcased distinct atmospheres and exceptional beers, including pale ales and IPAs, making for a rich and enjoyable experience in the local brewing scene.

Windermere

The Crafty Baa

After a journey by train from Blackpool, I started my day yesterday in Windermere. My first call here was to The Crafty Baa, which opened in August 2016. This location is truly remarkable! Upon entering, one is immediately captivated by the walls, floors, and ceilings adorned with a myriad of items, including flags, lampshades, signs, and much more. There are boxes that are not meant to be opened, a room said to be haunted, a lost and found area, a potting shed, and additional intriguing features.

The bar boasts an impressive selection of house ales, lagers, and ciders, in addition to cask and keg beers. There are also eight varieties of still ciders and a wall filled with cans and bottles, featuring the two strongest beers in the world, with ABVs of 75% and 67.5%. Furthermore, a tempting food menu is available, which is certainly worth exploring for those feeling hungry.

My preferred beer was one of their signature brews, “The Snaily Pale.” It is a flavorful, refreshing, and easily drinkable pale ale.

Click HERE for some more photos!

Ings

The Watermill Inn

A brief bus journey from Windermere to Ings led me to my second destination of the day, The Watermill Inn, which serves as the home of Windermere Brewing Company. As the name implies, this establishment was originally a watermill, but it has since been transformed into a charming pub that also offers accommodation.  

The brewery commenced operations in July 2006 under the name “Watermill Brewing Company,” later rebranding to “Windermere Brewing Company” in 2017. Notably, all of their beers feature a canine theme.

The venue boasts an attractive outdoor seating area, while the interior features a central bar accessible from several surrounding rooms, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. Customers can enjoy a fine selection of four cask ales available at the bar. I began with “Windermere Blonde,” a light and invigorating blonde ale that is rich in flavour. Subsequently, I moved on to “A Bit’er Ruff,” a delightful and robust traditional English Bitter.

Kendal

Lakes Brew Co

I embarked on another bus journey, this time heading to Kendal, where I intend to spend the remainder of the day. My initial destination in Kendal was a short walk outside the town to Lakes Brew Co.

They commenced their brewing operations in July 2021, making them just over three years old. The interior offers a large area that is cleared out for each tap room opening, typically held on the last weekend of the month, in conjunction with a street food vendor. There is ample seating available indoors, as well as additional outdoor seating.

The bar offers a selection of three cask beers and ten keg beers, in addition to a refrigerator stocked with cans available for consumption on-site or for takeaway. There is an excellent variety of styles to choose from. I had the opportunity to taste several beers at this location, beginning with “Round the Twist,” a sour beer characterized by its tart and refreshing blend of strawberry, pineapple, and lime, reminiscent of an ice lolly. Next, I tried “Indie Craft Werk,” a delightful 4 Hop beer crafted in collaboration with Indie Craft in Kendal to commemorate their sixth anniversary. Additionally, I sampled one of their cask offerings, “Rakou Revolution,” a pale ale hopped with Rakau and Citra, which presented enticing notes of passionfruit and citrus.

Bowness Bay Brewing

A stroll through Kendal led me to The Barrel House, The Venue and Bowness Bay Brewing, an impressive transformation of an old mill complex into a remarkable brewery, taproom, and event venue. It was a pleasure to meet Eva, Rick, and Jonty during my visit for a tour. Part of this complex was previously the “Goodacres” carpet factory, known for producing carpets for the Concorde.

The Barrel House features a two-story design with expansive folding glass doors at the entrance. The downstairs bar showcases a diverse selection of cask and keg beers, while the upstairs area offers a cosy snug. Outside, there are charming private beer cabins that were once horse stables. I opted for their new keg, the “Hazy IPA.” This beer is a remarkable addition to their selection, showcasing a delightful array of flavours and a pleasing hoppy profile.

The Venue serves as a spacious event area, currently being prepared for a wedding. Its beautiful interior makes it an appealing choice for special occasions, and it also hosts large beer festivals.

The brewery tour provided insight into the equipment utilized in the brewing process. It was impressive to learn that the brewery has received numerous awards for its various beers, with a few brews currently fermenting.

The Factory Tap

A brief stroll leads me to The Factory Tap, an exceptional modern bar housed within a historic mill building, that is visually striking internally and externally. The stone walls, low ceilings, and wooden seating contribute significantly to the establishment’s atmosphere and character.

The front features a remarkable beer garden that extends around one end of the building. Additionally, there is a separate non-smoking beer garden accessible through the pub, equally unique, offering a variety of tables and chairs.

Inside, customers can choose from six cask ales sourced from various breweries, both local and from more distant regions. I chose the “Crafty Mild” from the Kirkby Lonsdale Brewery. This dark ale is both flavourful and smooth, making it a delightful choice for easy drinking.

Indie Craft Beer

I then made my way back to the heart of Kendal to explore Indie Craft Beer.

This remarkable establishment offers a selection of 12 keg beers, in addition to one cask line, complemented by fridges and shelves stocked with a diverse array of cans and bottles for patrons to savour.  I chose to sample “Five Go Brewing” from Lakes Brew Co. This beer is crafted by the five staff members, each of whom selected a hop to incorporate into the brew. It is both delightful and easy to enjoy.

The bar and a modest seating area are located on the lower level, while the upper level features an additional seating area designated as a chill-out room. Its location on a pedestrianized street provides ample outdoor seating at the front, which is a significant advantage.

Handsome Snuff Bar

A brief stroll led me to Handsome Snuff Bar, which was initially established as the taphouse for Handsome Brewery. It is now independently operated by James, who extended a warm welcome upon my arrival.  

The establishment is housed in a stunning Georgian stone building, accessible via a stone staircase at the front. Inside, there are a couple of rooms on the lower level, divided by a single step, while the upper floor features two well-lit rooms that offer splendid views of Miller Bridge and the River Kent.  

The bar boasts a selection of two cask beers from Handsome Brewery, complemented by an impressive array of keg options, all served from a remarkable setup that I had not encountered before. I opted to go with “Mr Cat”, a delicious, light and easy drinking cask beer.

The New Union

A brief stroll led me to The New Union, formerly recognized as the Union Tavern. This charming historic pub, situated on Windermere Road, has garnered numerous accolades, including the CAMRA National Cider Pub of the Year award in 2019. Upon my arrival, I was greeted with a warm and inviting atmosphere.  

The interior boasts a contemporary ambience while preserving many traditional elements. Additionally, there is a spacious outdoor seating area that offers plenty of seating options.  

At the bar, customers can find an impressive selection of ciders, along with four cask ales and four keg beers. It is commendable to see the establishment supporting local breweries, such as Lakes Brew Co and Gan Yam. My preferred beverage was “Tag Lag,” produced by Barngates Brewery located in Ambleside. This drink exemplifies a classic English bitter, characterized by its delightful bitterness.

Fell Bar

My final call of the day was to Fell Bar, operated by Fell Brewery. Located on a narrow street close to the town hall, this establishment is a four-story building.

Described as “A small hidden treasure-store of knowledge and enthusiasm about modern beers, you’ll discover that a visit is both an education and a taste adventure”. The establishment offers a warm and inviting atmosphere, accompanied by friendly service and an impressive selection of both cask and keg beers at the bar, as well as a variety of cans available for takeaway. Jim’s Pizzas operates on the top floor from Thursday to Sunday offering delicious and freshly cooked pizzas.

With my local being The Old Grocers in Pontefract, I could not resist having a pint of “Tinderbox”. A tasty classic West Coast style IPA and one of their original beers. Some great hop flavours coming through from this 6.3% beer.