The Best Cornish Breweries to Visit in 2026

St Ives Brewery (St Ives)

Cornish Escapes’ local brewery must surely take the award for “Best-looking Cans”. The contents are pretty fine, too: try Summer Hazy IPA or a tin of Meor. The main brewery is now in Hayle, but they have retained a micro brewery at the original St Ives site. You can book a brewery tour of either (or both!), and their St Ives Brewhouse cafe has some of the best views in town!

Photo credit: St Ives Brewery

Cornish Crown Brewery (Penzance)

The Crown is a welcoming little pub behind the main shopping street in Penzance. What is unusual about this friendly little venue is that they brew their own beers. Cornish Crown Brewery is up on the moors above Penzance and produces real local favourites, including IPAs and a porter. The Star Inn in nearby Crowlas also brews its own beer.

Verdant Brewing Co (Penryn)

Independent Penryn-based Verdant Brewing Co is little more than a decade old, but is a firmly established name on the Cornish drinks scene and producing some of the best Cornish beers. Visit their dog-friendly taproom for pizza, beer and other brews, or their beach bar and taproom in St Agnes. Both locations also serve tasty Neapolitan pizzas. As you would expect from Cornwall’s artiest town, the branding is also delicious. 

Photo credit: Verdant Brewing Co

Black Flag Brewery (Perranporth)

Black Flag Brewery and taproom is on the beautiful north coast just outside Perranporth. Try to visit the taproom on a Friday or Saturday evening, when you can enjoy their famous wood-fired pizza alongside your Fang pale ale. Conscious of any impact on the environment, they have switched to using organic malted barley.

Harbour Brewing Co (Bodmin)

This Bodmin-based brewery sells its beer in unique cans, emblazoned with a distinctive “H” and in some glorious colours. What started out as a side project to produce craft beer in Cornwall has become a full-time passion, producing such a wide range of beers that there is something for all craft beer aficionados. Look out for their Big Wednesday IPA and moreish Singlefin lager.

Firebrand Brewing Co (Launceston)

Firebrand began life in an old milking parlour on the edge of Bodmin Moor. They have since moved to a sparkling new modern base in Launceston, which has a lively taproom overlooking the brewery. Firebrand’s taproom features a rotating selection of food vans: from chilli to sourdough pizzas, but all still perfect with their signature brew, Patchwork Rocket pale ale.

Skinner’s Brewery (Truro)

There was a collective howl across the county in 2022 when this much-loved Cornish brewery went into administration. Happily, Skinners was taken over by another Cornish company, the Goodh Brewing Co at Indian Queens and continues to brew the iconic Betty Stogs. Visit Skinner’s Truro Taproom for craft beer and fried chicken.

Photo credit: Skinners Brewery

Padstow Brewing Co (Padstow)

Padstow has its own superb local brewery, Padstow Brewing Company has tasting rooms at Broad Street and Duke Street, both of which offer tapas-style food to accompany their range of craft beers. You can also book onto a brewery tour and beer tasting experience. Try the super-refreshing Padstow Pale Ale.

Sharp’s Brewery (Rock)

Sharp’s in Rock is best known for its Doom Bar and Atlantic Pale Ales and was once challenged by Rick Stein to brew a special beer to accompany seafood (they named it Chalky’s Bite, after the chef’s famous dog). Sharp’s is a real fixture at local festivals such as Rock Oyster and The Wyldes Cornwall; and if you miss the party, you can book onto a tasting session at the brewery.