Theakstons Brewery

on Oct 21 in Breweries, JOGLE 2010 by Sam

Theakstons Brewery was an unexpected stop and largely came about from a chat with a coffee shop owner over our days proposed route (when someone mentions to their customers that ‘these lads are thinking of doing this..points to map’ and they go ‘oooh’ in shock about the hills you propose climb, you have to change your route, especially when on a tandem). Anyway, the diversion led us through the famous brewing village of Masham, North Yorkshire. Home of Theakstons and Black Sheep breweries. With limited time we chose to visit Theakstons Brewery, no real reason for this, but it was a good choice I think. Kind of a shame though that we did miss Black Sheep, given the family rivalry between the two breweries (maybe another time). Theakstons Brewery very much cater for the tourists, when we were there a large group of German students were drinking in the bar and the shop is full of all mostly useless items carrying the Theakstons logo. We didn’t have time for a proper tour round, so we joined the Germans in the brewery bar and tried several of the different beers that were on tap. Rather than go for the well known Theakstons Beer (Best Bitter and Old Peculiar) we went for the seasonal ales (Grouse Beater, Lightfoot and one other i cant remember), our favourite being Grouse Beater, coppery orange to the eye, fruity to the nose and a lovely sweet berry and fruity taste, quite unusual (maybe one of the girls, given its sweetness). Couple of drinks and a look round the brewery shop was all we had time for and we were on our way to Harrogate for a night of beer drinking in a strange little Sam Smiths pub just down from the campsite where we were staying.

Nice beers Theakstons.