Coniston Brewing Co.

Brewpub in Coniston, Cumbria, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
Associated Venue: Black Bull Inn (Coniston Brewery)

Established in 1995

Contact
Coppermines Road, Coniston, LA21 8HL, England
Description
Hidden away behind the Black Bull in Coniston is the
Coniston Brewing Company.

This outstanding brewery, run by Ian Bradley, is where Bluebird Bitter is made. This 3.6% session beer won Supreme Champion Beer of Britain 1998 at the Great British Beer Festival Olympia London and has continued to be awarded accolades of recent years.

To the pure waters of the Coniston hills - add the finest Challenger hops and wonderfully roasted pale and crystal malts.
Allow the Coniston Brewing Company to use all their skill and instinctive know-how to create what must be described as the finest fully matured cask conditioned Ales.

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7.5
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7

Cask Bishops Arms Plaza 2026-01-02 Göteborg
AR: wee bitter, smooth, rustic bready
AP: clear coppery, frothy head
F: wee bitter, smooth, rustic bready

Tried from Cask at The Bishops Arms Plaza (Västra Hamngatan, Göteborg) on 03 Jan 2026 at 14:48


7.6
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7.5 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8

Cask Haket 2025-12-06 Göteborg AR: smooth, bready, wee bitter AP: clear coppery, frothy cream head F: smooth, bready, wee bitter

Tried from Cask at Haket on 07 Dec 2025 at 20:10


7
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6.5 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7

Deep ruby colour with a slight tendency towards brown. Gets quite some head, the slightest off-white: good persistence, excellent lacing. Not much intensity in the aroma: a subdued (per style) malty presence, with nuttiness and perhaps a hint of toffee and roastiness, a bit of underlying winey, slightly leathery presence, some not very distinct fruity notes (but i'd say mainly in the likes of cherries under spirit). Taste still shows moderate intensity, but in a quite delicate, pleasant way, and feels more defined. Notes as per aroma, plus a quite unexpected dry and moderately astringent, slightly bitter edging finish, with a bit of leafy/tea-like note to it. Light to medium bodied, low to medium carbonation, fine-bubbled carbonation; feels pretty smooth but also shows a hint of creaminess. Could have used a bit more intensity, feels like it doesn't have much even for the style; on the whole, though, it is well made, fine beer.

Tried from Bottle on 10 Nov 2025 at 20:07


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

Tried from Bottle on 03 Aug 2025 at 20:15


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

Old rating from 09-05-15 - 500ml bottle, pours amber with a white head. Aromas & tastes of citrus, lemon, biscuit & malt. Medium body. Moderate bitter finish. Very enjoyable

Tried from Bottle on 08 Jun 2025 at 15:10


7

Bottle from dbw. Dark brownish amber pour. Loads of toffee caramel, roasted malts, light bitterness.

Tried from Bottle on 20 May 2025 at 01:36


7

Bottled at home. Orange tan pour. Biscuits, toffee, bitters. Pretty good overall

Tried from Bottle on 20 May 2025 at 01:36


6.8
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6

Draft. Poured a bronzey red. Aroma was some hops. Taste was malty and biscuitish. Not too bad.

Tried from Draft on 20 May 2025 at 00:55


7
Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 6.5 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7

Clear chestnur pour with a somewhat stable white head. Aromas of malt, grain, some citrus. Taste is cocoa, chestnut, malt/grain, some herbs for a nice, slightly bitter finish. Brings back memories of the hike up the Old Man.

Tried from Bottle on 02 May 2025 at 18:30


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7.5
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7.5 | Flavor - 7.5 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7.5

Creamy white head on an unclear golden coloured body.
Traditional Bitter aroma.
Medium bodied, soft & foaming on the tongue with sharp dry back.
Malt, berry, zesty citrus & resinous tastes with a bitter hopped finish.
That's a great Bitter.

Tried from Bottle on 02 Feb 2025 at 17:10