Arkell's Brewery

Regional Brewery in Swindon, Wiltshire, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
Associated with 11 Venues

Established in 1843

Contact
Kingsdown Brewery, Hyde Road, Swindon, SN2 7RU, England
Description
Arkell’s Brewery was established in 1843 by John Arkell and 175 years later, is one of less than thirty family breweries remaining in the UK. As Swindon’s oldest business, Arkell’s has kept its founding values alive and continues to produce local beer for local customers. These values have been continued by the four family members in charge today; Chairman James Arkell, his cousin Nick Arkell, Head of Sales, and James’ sons George Arkell, and Alex Arkell are Managing Director and Head Brewer respectively.

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6.8/10 Appearance 7 Aroma 6 Flavor 7 Texture 7 Overall 7
Hand pulled half pint in Montgomery 's Tower, Shrewsbury on 31st May 2026. Gold in colour, clean, clear and bright, weak white head. Floral nose and taste, some honey sweetness. Nice enough without exciting my senses too much.
Tried from Cask at Montgomery's Tower on 31 May 2026 at 16:12

7.1/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 7 Overall 7
Cask up the White Lady. Pours clear yellow gold with a thick white head. Aromas of light elderflower and biscuit. Taste is more of the same. Light bitter finish.
Tried on 15 May 2026 at 13:17

6.1/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 6 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 6.5
Cask handpull at County Hotel JDW Ashford. Clear gold colour lasting white head. A typical golden ale. Some malt some drying hop flavour. Its ok. N9t very interesting but an ok golden ale.
Tried from Cask at County Hotel on 07 Apr 2026 at 17:19

6.4/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 6 Texture 7 Overall 6
Half pint on cask at the Leopard.
Medium creamy white head. Clear golden pour. Light bitterness
Tried from Cask at The Leopard on 29 Mar 2026 at 16:42

5.1/10 Appearance 7 Aroma 7.5 Flavor 4 Texture 5 Overall 3
500 ml bottle. Massive gusher on opening, losing half the contents. (Minus points.) Pours a bright orange/amber with light head. Aromas of liquor soaked fruit. candied orange peel, and toasted malts. Flavors of cardboard, stale hops and dry biscuity malts. Maybe old?
Tried from Bottle on 29 Oct 2025 at 16:21

6.4/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 6.5 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 6
Cask at Bottle of Sauce, Chelt. Clear golden, white head with good retention. Aroma of sweet-ish pale malts, bready, floral hops. Taste is much the same, sweet-ish malts and floral hops, mild citrus, mild bitterness. Medium bodied, very little carbonation.
As Colin noted in his review before mine, the marketing of this beer calling it a full bodied IPA is a bit ridiculous and honestly disingenuous; it's a bog standard pale ale. The brewing method is far more interesting than the beer itself I'd say!
Tried from Cask at The Bottle of Sauce on 04 Sep 2025 at 18:24

7/10
Tried from Bottle on 04 Jun 2025 at 22:26

6.5/10
Tried from Bottle on 04 Jun 2025 at 22:25

6.5/10
Tried from Bottle on 04 Jun 2025 at 22:24

6/10
Tried from Bottle on 04 Jun 2025 at 22:23