It all began in the summer of 2010 in Croasdale, Cumbria, when Ennerdale Brewery was established by two like-minded individuals, with the assistance of a local brewer. Our original beers were crafted under the guidance of the late and esteemed Peter Laws of Jennings Brewery in Cockermouth. Within four years, we had outgrown our initial brewing location; the demand had surpassed our capacity in a humble barn in a hamlet, necessitating the urgent acquisition of larger brewing facilities. The premises we now occupied had previously been designed for manufacturing wooden fence panels, demanding a complete redesign to transform it into a functional home for our craft brewery and bistro. Fortunately, as a fully functional family-run business, we all pitched in, aided by the support of our friends.
The beer brewing industry is highly energy-intensive, compelling us to seek a sustainable energy source that would reduce our carbon footprint. With assistance from CLEP Cumbria, we installed 176 solar panels on the brewery’s roof, generating 65KW per hour, delivering over 400KW/h on a sunny day, and slashing our carbon footprint by an impressive 75%. We take pride in being one of the very few breweries in Cumbria to operate entirely on solar panel power. Recognising the shift towards electric vehicles, we also have plans to install a 4-berth electric vehicle charging station in our car park for the convenience of our visitors.
Fast forward seven years, Ennerdale Brewery has weathered floods, material shortages, and a global pandemic, yet we have continued to nurture our success. We have earned SIBA awards for our beers, achieved SALSA accreditation, and garnered an impressive 5-star rating for The Brewery Tap, a splendid bistro offering local homemade food and beers directly from the brewery. Our success can be attributed to hard work, camaraderie among all involved, dedicated and diligent employees, and, of course, our tight-knit family.
Our beers begin with only four ingredients: water, malt, hops, and yeast.
It is of utmost importance to us that our beers are brewed using ingredients that are as fresh and natural as possible:
We exclusively employ the finest malts, which are freshly kiln-dried and milled especially for us.
Our flavourful hops are whole-leaf, dried hops, and our yeast is cultivated from one of the longest-established English Ale Yeasts. Moreover, we harvest yeast from each fermentation to utilise in the subsequent brew, ensuring the preservation of those distinctive flavours.
Our beers undergo a week of fermentation, followed by a careful transfer to racking and conditioning vessels for up to six days, depending on the recipe. It’s pure natural goodness!
You have the option to enjoy our brewery tours at our modest craft brewery in Rowrah, pay us a visit at The Brewery Tap for a delicious meal and a taste of something directly from the brewery, or place an online order to enjoy in the comfort of your home.
