Our Guide to Cornish Breweries

Wash down your pasty with a pint of thirst-quenching Cornish ale. Here in Cornwall, we have a great selection of breweries, from the mighty St Austell to traditional little micro breweries.

Here’s the Cornish Escapes guide to finding a great local pint on your Cornwall holidays.

Harbour Brewing Co (Bodmin)

This Bodmin-based brewery sells its beer in distinctive cans, emblazoned with a distinctive “H” and in some glorious colours. Their recent partnership with St Austell Brewery means we’ll be seeing Harbour’s brews in more locations across the south west, which is definitely good news. Look out for their Daymer Pale Ale and Big Wednesday IPA.

Verdant Brewing Co (Penryn)

Independent Penryn-based Verdant Brewing Co is less than a decade old, but is a firmly established name on the Cornish drinks scene. Visit their dog-friendly taproom for pizza, beer and other brews. Their take-away can menu changes weekly. As you’d expect from Cornwall’s artiest town, the branding is also delicious.

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 Pale or a tin of Meor. The main brewery is now in Hayle, but they’ve retained a micro brewery at the original St Ives site. You can book onto a tour of either (or both!) and their St Ives Brewhouse cafe has some of the best views in town.

Cornish Crown Brewery (Penzance)

The Crown is a welcoming little pub behind the main shopping street in Penzance. What’s 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. Best enjoyed at The Crown itself. The Star Inn in nearby Crowlas also brews its own beer.

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 longside your Crab Claw steam beer. Conscious of any impact on the environment, they’ve switched to using organic malted barley.

Firebrand Brewing Co (Launceston)

Firebrand began life in an old milking parlour on the edge of Bodmin Moor. They’ve since moved to a sparkling new modern base in Launceston, which has a lively taproom overlooking the brewery. If you fancy a change from the beer-and-pizza combo, Firebrand’s taproom serves burgers: perfect with their signature brew, Patchwork Rocket pale ale.

Padstow Brewing Co (Padstow)

It’s now a quick trip over the estuary to Padstow and its 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 beers. You can also book onto a brewery tour. Try the super-refreshing Padstow 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 beer and fried chicken.

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

Book your holiday cottage in Cornwall

Come home from your brewery tour, weighed down with a clinking bag of Cornish-brewed ales and lagers and relax on the patio or balcony of your luxurious holiday cottage.

Take a look at our selection of beautiful Cornish holiday cottages and find your new favourite spot for a refreshing drink.

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