Dark Horse

Microbrewery in Skipton, North Yorkshire, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Established in 2008

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Coonlands Laithe, Rylstone, Skipton, BD23 6LY, England
Description
The brewery is housed in a 200-year-old Laithe; a Yorkshire term, derived from Old Norse, for a barn or agricultural building. It was used for storing hay and sheltering cattle until it was converted.

Along with improvements to the building, a 150-foot borehole was drilled to tap in to the excellent brewing quality water below. In addition, and uniquely, a reed bed was constructed to deal with the brewery waste in an environmentally friendly manner.

Originally called Wharfedale Brewery, the site was opened by the Duke of Kent KG on the 3rd December 2003. Unfortunately brewing ceased in 2007 and the brewery closed.

In 2007 the brewery was bought by the present owners Richard and Carole Eyton-Jones. Richard graduated from Heriot Watt University with a Masters Degree in Brewing and began his career at Goose Eye Brewery in Keighley, Yorkshire. He went on to brew at Old Mill Brewery in Snaithe, St Peter’s Brewery & the Old Cannon Brewery, both in Suffolk. Carole started out as a Whitbread manager, is a qualified licensee and has enjoyed many years in hospitality and retail management.

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5.8
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6

Cask-conditioned at the Bag ONails, Bristol 8/12/08. Deep golden in colour with a slight, white head. Aroma of sweet malts, a touch of corn and grassy hops. Flavour was sweetish, with some summer fruits and a short, dry finish. Ok.

Tried from Cask on 08 Dec 2008 at 17:58


6.1
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5

Cask-conditioned at the Bag ONails, Bristol 20/11/08. Bronze coloured with a slight, off-white head. Malty aroma with some fruit and earthiness. An easy drinking session beer, with some chewy malt and a decent bitter finish.

Tried from Cask on 21 Nov 2008 at 13:41


6.5
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6

Cask, New Oxford, Salford. Caramel malt in the aroma and flavour, plus something I couldn’t quite place, maybe a slight pepperyness? Some bitterness in the finish. Not bad

Tried from Cask on 20 Nov 2008 at 16:08


6.4
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5

Cask-conditioned at the Royal Oak, Bath 5/10/08. Thanks for setting this brewery up, my browser has taken offence to both Beermad and Quaffale....Deep amber in colour with a slight, off-white head. Sweet, fruit and caramel aroma with some balancing earthy hops. Flavour had more of the same, not sure about whisky, but there was plenty of warming alcohol in the finish for a 5% ABV beer. Good effort.

Tried from Cask on 19 Oct 2008 at 17:53