Thornbridge cask range

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A long-time favourite for Thornbridge drinkers, and one of our earliest recipes, Brother Rabbit is our core Golden Ale offering in cask. We use a fantastic Norfolk malt which gives a great base to the beer and a lightly resinous character, the hops present a fantastic, punchy, lemon flavour with grassy hints.

Brother Rabbit pours lemon zest in colour with a clean, hoppy aroma. A dry palate, resinous finish and some bitterness make it a great session beer.

The Union is a classic British-style cask IPA, around 6% ABV/1055 OG, created using the very best ingredients we can get our hands on and then fermenting it in our new Union set. For our base malt, we have used Maris Otter from Norfolk, where the sandy soil and maritime climate is perfect for growing this variety. We’ve also added a touch of Simpsons’ best Crystal malt to add a touch of colour and rounded sweetness and some of the special (and expensive) “Brewers’ Invert No.2” sugar from Ragus, which will add notes of caramel and toffee while helping to keep the beer’s body in check. The all-important hops are British-grown Goldings and Northdown, which give us some gentle berry flavours and rounded, cedar-like hop aromas to balance the maltiness. We’ve pitched two of our yeast strains, namely our fruity British cask ale strain and the California ale yeast, which is fairly neutral in flavour and ensured the attenuation we were looking for.

Kelham Island Brewery was founded in 1990 by Dave Wickett (or Wickett as he became known) and its success and reputation for innovation blazed a trail which encouraged the beginnings of many other breweries. One of which was Thornbridge, with inspiration from Wickett, Jim Harrison and Simon Webster were persuaded to buy their first ever brew kit, and the rest is history. Wickett has sadly passed since then, but his legacy continues within the U.K. beer industry today.

Unfortunately Kelham Island closed its doors in early 2022, leaving a hole in the Sheffield beer scene. Thornbridge wanted to try and keep Wickett’s passion going and stepped in to start brewing their flagship beer, Pale Rider. First brewed in 1993, right in the heart of Sheffield, Pale Rider is a true classic and it became an instant favourite among cask beer drinkers across the country. In 2004 it was crowned the Champion Beer of Britain at CAMRA’s GBBF (Great British Beer Festival).

The beer is light in colour and fantastically full bodied with a joyous aroma filled with zesty grapefruit and lemon. The palate brings flavours of orange and mango with charming floral undertones, notes of honey are present from the malt leading to a refreshingly dry finish. Modern brewing innovation has allowed us to keep the beer relevant by now making it Vegan friendly in keeping with the beliefs of Wickett, who was a vegetarian.

Jaipur is our flagship beer, and the one that really put us on the map back in 2005 when we were just starting out. We are often told “this is the beer, that got me into beer” and we are always very proud to hear this. It’s usually recognised as the first UK craft IPA, and was brewed with a huge amount of US hops at a time where this was very unusual, these provide a fantastic experience of grapefruit, lemon and tropical fruit with an enticing bitterness. We balance these with a great English malt base of Low Colour Maris Otter from Norfolk that helps keep the beer light and drinkable with enough sweetness to keep it all in harmony.

Kipling was the first UK beer to use the exquisite Nelson Sauvin hop from New Zealand. We brew this as a SMASH (Single Malt and Single Hop) using the heritage Maris Otter as a base malt which works to allow the complex flavour of this hop to really shine through. There is a grassy, grapefruit character on the nose, followed by passionfruit and mango. It finishes with a balanced and thirst-quenching bitterness

Green Mountain is one of our most popular beers and our brewers knew they could create a fantastic alcohol free version which encompasses the same great juicy and tropical flavours of the original. After some detailed recipe development, we’re very happy with the results. It pours a beautiful hazy gold, with the classic aromas of mango and pineapple leading to a soft and well-rounded mouthfeel. Vegan Friendly

aipur is our flagship beer, and the one that really put us on the map back in 2005 when we were just starting out. We are often told “this is the beer, that got me into beer” and we are always very proud to hear this. It’s usually recognised as the first UK craft IPA, and was brewed with a huge amount of US hops at a time where this was very unusual, these provide a fantastic experience of grapefruit, lemon and tropical fruit with an enticing bitterness. We balance these with a great English malt base of Low Colour Maris Otter from Norfolk that helps keep the beer light and drinkable with enough sweetness to keep it all in harmony.

Our brewers are huge fans of German beer, appreciating the consistent quality of the different styles produced and are always keen to make these here in Bakewell. Our Helles lager, Lukas, is brewed with Bavarian ingredients and undergoes a long lagering period to make sure it’s in perfect condition when packaged. In keg it is the go-to lager option for our own pubs and many others, in can and bottle it fills the fridges of numerous homes around the country. It’s light, crisp and has just a little malt sweetness which is characteristic of this traditional style.

Helles is a traditional, elegant Bavarian style of beer originating in Munich. Lukas is straw blonde, full-bodied yet sparklingly light.

Brock pours pitch black with a creamy, tan head that lasts throughout the entire drinking experience. The aroma is rich and roasty, with notes of dark chocolate, coffee, and a hint of caramel. On the palate, the beer is velvety smooth, with a medium body and low carbonation. Flavours of dark roasted malts, coffee, and bittersweet chocolate dominate, while a subtle sweetness balances out the bitterness from the hops. The nitro adds a creaminess to the mouthfeel that accentuates the richness of the flavours, resulting in a delicious and satisfying drinking experience. The finish is long and roasty, leaving behind a lingering bitterness and a hint of chocolate. Overall, this Nitro Stout is a decadent and flavourful beer that's perfect for those who appreciate a rich and smooth brew.