Hadrian Border Brewery

Microbrewery in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
Associated Venue: Station East (Hadrian & Border)

Established in 1994

Contact
Unit 5, The Preserving Works,, Newburn Industrial Estate, Shelley Rd, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE15 9RT, England
Description
The foundations were laid on 9th June 1994 when we took over the Border Brewery Company in Berwick upon Tweed (pictured). This was an 8 barrel brew plant with 15 barrels of fermenting capacity, selling 2 barrels per week at that time.

Very soon we had to add more fermenters, by 1999 we had the capacity to brew 35 barrels per week and were rapidly reaching that limit of sales. At that time Farne Island was the best selling beer and it was being brewed twice a week to keep up with demand. The search was on for a bigger plant.

In 2000 the Four Rivers brewery in Byker Newcastle went into liquidation, there was a 20 barrel plantavailable. We had looked for premises around Berwickshire but had drawn a blank, we had nowhere to put this large brewery if we bought it so we decided to buy the whole business from the liquidators and relocate ourselves and the existing business to Tyneside. The Four Rivers had originally been called the Hadrian Brewery so we changed the company name to Hadrian and Border, the border, now north

of Berwick and Hadrian’s wall were one and the same thing, just in different locations and eras.

With this move the brewing capacity increased to 55 barrels, Farne Island continued to be the best seller. In February 2007 Tyneside Blonde was produced, this beer gained its followers from the start, and remains an iconic brand in Northern England. Soon we were selling equal quantities of both brands and it was apparent another expansion plan was necessary.

Failed attempts to move to freehold sites in 2001, 2003 and 2007 left us rather deflated and a whole lot poorer. However sales dictated a move, it was no longer a choice but a necessity. Here we go again!

A new home was identified in April 2009 in the former Ross’s pickle factory in Newburn, West of the city. The purchase was completed that September and the extensive refit began. Walls were knocked down, walls were built, a new roof, new drainage, and more importantly a brand new 40 barrel brewery was commissioned and installed. The first brew was mashed in April 2011. Newburn No1. We also partially rebranded to coincide with the move.

We have continued to grow the business since. On this site, our production capacity is 200 barrels a week. We now have the ability to increase the business in other ways, so we gained supply agreements for major pub companies and contract brew for others who need larger or smaller production runs than they themselves can do. In 2014 we achieved our SALSA (safe and local supplier approval). A year later we passed the SALSA+beer audit which assures our customers get the best quality control available at this level of operation. We are extremely proud of this certification and were the first brewery in the North of England to achieve it.

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7.1
Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7.5 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7

Tried from Cask at Heart of Northumberland on 15 May 2025 at 19:29


7.1
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6.5 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7

Cask at the Heart Of Northumberland, Hexham, 15/05/2025.
Golden to light amber topped with a lasting off white head ... lacing ensues.
Nose is orange zest, grass, melon, papaya, mandarin.
Taste comprises melon, soft malts, orange zest, light grapefruit, breads.
Medium bodied, soft carbonation, semi drying close splashed with juicy hop bitterness.
Tidy enough cask IPA.

Tried on 15 May 2025 at 14:13


6
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 5.5 | Flavor - 5.5 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 5.5

Cask at the Heart Of Northumberland, Hexham, 15/05/2025.
Almost clear golden amber topped with a lasting off white head ... good lacing ensues.
Nose is biscuit, straw, stewed fruits, grains.
Taste comprises porridge, oats, biscuit, dull fruits.
Medium bodied, fine carbonation, semi drying close.
Passable twiggy affair but a lot better than the same beer in the nearby spoons that was in terrible condition @4.8.

Tried on 15 May 2025 at 14:08


6.4
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 5.5 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6

Cask at the County Hotel, Hexham, 15/05/2025.
Clear golden topped with a creamy lasting white head.
Nose is pale malts, straw, melon, breads.
Taste comprises light breads, straw, faint citric zest, grass.
Medium bodied, soft massaging carbonation, semi drying close.
In good nick but a little pedestrian overall.

Tried on 15 May 2025 at 13:36


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

Tried from Cask at Station House on 14 May 2025 at 16:01


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

Cask at the Station House, Durham, with Colin & Dave. Black colour, biege foam head and aroma of roasty malt, molasses, hops. Taste is roasty, malt, coffee, chocolate, with some ash and hop bitterness. Medium bodied, soft carbonation, dry roasty bitter finish. Quite drinkable

Tried from Cask at Station House on 14 May 2025 at 14:30


6.4
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 5.5 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6

Cask at the Station House, Durham, 14/05/2025.
Reddish amber topped with a lasting beige cap.
Nose is biscuit, herb, straw, brown bread.
Taste comprises toffee, stewed fruits, biscuit, grains.
Medium bodied, soft carbonation, semi drying close.
Okay cask affair.

Tried on 14 May 2025 at 09:04


7.3
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7

Cask at the Station House, Durham, 14/05/2025.
Black with a lasting khaki head.
Nose is earthy roast, charr, toffee, cola cubes, dried fruit rinds.
Taste comprises roasted tones, pine nibble, cocoa sprinkle, charr.
Medium bodied, soft carbonation, drying close doused with earthy hop bitterness.
Solid cask CDA.

Tried on 14 May 2025 at 08:53


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

Can from Taste of Northumbria. Pours hazy yellow gold with a thin white head. Aromas of light tropical fruit and resin. Taste is light dank and orange peel. Light sweet finish.

Tried on 24 Apr 2025 at 12:12


7.1
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7

Can from Taste of Northumbria, Alnwick. Pours clear golden with a thin white head. Aromas of light tropical fruit and citrus. Taste is more of the same. Light bitter finish.

Tried on 24 Apr 2025 at 12:11