More than a dozen real ale breweries have opened in Dorset in the last ten years.
After a long period marked mainly by take-overs (Devenish) and closures (Eldridge Pope) it is good indeed to see a well established trend in the other direction.
On this page we try to give short introduction to each brewer and a link to their own web sites.
Click on the Name or Logo to visit the brewers own web site.
APEX BREWERY Est. 2015
Somerset/Dorset border
A nano craft brewery based on the Somerset Dorset border.
BREWHOUSE & KITCHEN Est. 2011
Dorchester
One of the 23 currently opened brew pubs started by Simon Bunn and Kris Gumbrell. The pubs all brew individual beers on similar recipes, both keg and cask and reflect the modern beer/gastro movement.
CERNE ABBAS BREWERY Est. 2014
Cerne Abbas
Vic Irving started the brewery alongside friend Jodie Moore to produce crystal clear consistently good beer with an ever expanding portfolio. The brewery often host community events (see their Facebook page) and is a major contributor to the local village social scene.
COPPER STREET BREWERY Est. 2018
Dorchester
Anthony and Anne Buckton set up the 2.5 barrel brewery on former Eldridge Pope/Railway land in part of the modern Brewery Sq. Formerly located in Hampshire as Alfred Ales which you may once have sampled at Octoberfest. The brewery has a bottled beer shop plus taproom.
DORSET BREWING COMPANY Est. 1996
Crossways
Formerly based in the old Devenish brewery, Hope Sq, Weymouth. In 2010 relocated to its present site. The core beer range is very traditional with modern day specials and is currently up for sale. The brewery has a tap room.
GYLE 59 Est. 2014
Sadborow Estate, Thorncombe
A 10 barrel brewery that has brewed for Lyme Regis brewery. The first brewery in Dorset to produce unfined, filtered beers; many of which can be found in bottles alongside cask.
LYME REGIS BREWERY Est. 2010
Lyme Regis
Originally the Town Mill brewery with just a cask range, recently the brewery has had new owners with an expanding range of cask and keg beers. The brewery has its own tap house within the Town Mill complex.
PALMERS Est. 1794
Bridport
Traditional family owned brewery with a tied estate of 54 pubs and award winning cask beers. The brewery provides an excellent tour and is steeped in family history, see the book “Palmers; the story of a Dorset brewer “or visit their wine and spirits store.
PARACHUTE Est. 2023
Sherborne
Parachute Tap Room & Bar brews using traditional methods and natural processes in open-top fermenters. Beers are naturally carbonated in the kegs.
PIDDLE BREWERY Est. 2007
Piddlehinton
The new owners since 2014 have strived to bring an imaginative consistent range of cask, keg and bottled beers to the market. A good free trade network within Dorset, Hampshire and beyond.
SMALL PAULS Est.2006
Gillingham
Small by name and nature. A half barrel kit in the owner Paul Smith’s garage, a keen CAMRA member. Beer can be designed for festivals and events.
WINDWARD BREWERY Est.2019
Salwayash, Bridport
A tributary of the Dorset Nectar cider producers who started in 2008.Initially the brew plant was small but now is a 10 barrel plant producing cask and bottled ales. A brewery to lookout for in the future.
East Dorset Breweries
BIG DIG BREWHOUSE Est. 2023
Winterborne Kingston, Blandford
The Big Dig Brewhouse is a small-batch artisan brewery making craft beer for discerning drinkers. And non-discerning drinkers. We aren’t fussy.
There has been brewing, and drinking, on this site for around two thousand years. True. So, keep the tradition alive and visit our infrequent and irregular taprooms for history-making beers and (when available) decent grub.
BOSCOMBE Est. 2022
Boscombe
A nanobrewery launched commercially in 2022 using a three-barrel plant in a converted outhouse of a residential property. Brewer Jarrod Thompson began homebrewing in his native Nashua in New Hampshire more than twenty years ago. No real ale.
BREWERS FOLLY Est. 2017
Stanbridge, Wimborne
Three friends who were avid home brewers purchased a small 1.4 barrel kit from Brew Shack and took the plunge into the more commercial side of things to produce unfined beer.
BREWHOUSE & KITCHEN
Bournemouth
One of the 23 currently opened brew pubs started by Simon Bunn and Kris Gumbrell. The pubs all brew individual beers on similar recipes, both keg and cask and reflect the modern beer/gastro movement.
BREWHOUSE & KITCHEN
Poole
One of the 23 currently opened brew pubs started by Simon Bunn and Kris Gumbrell. The pubs all brew individual beers on similar recipes, both keg and cask and reflect the modern beer/gastro movement.
BREWHOUSE & KITCHEN
Southbourne
One of the 23 currently opened brew pubs started by Simon Bunn and Kris Gumbrell. The pubs all brew individual beers on similar recipes, both keg and cask and reflect the modern beer/gastro movement.
DROP THE ANCHOR BREWERY Est. 2017
Hinton, Christchurch
A brewery situated right on the Dorset/Hampshire borderline Formerly located in Christchurch. The brewery produces an ever-expanding range of unfiltered & unfined beers including the current Dorchester Beerex beer of the festival Breaking Glass Hazelnut Porter.
EIGHT ARCH BREWING CO. Est. 2015
Wimborne
The brewery produces an excellent mix of fined and unfined cask, keg and tined beers with a consistent branding image. Often winning awards with a tap room open on Friday afternoons
HALL & WOODHOUSE Est. 1777
Blandford
The oldest family owned Dorset brewery with the most modern plant. Originally started in the village of Antsy by the Fox inn. The brewery brews traditional cask ales plus a bottled range which supermarkets stock through-out the U.K
HATTIE BROWN’S BREWERY Est.2014
Swanage
Originally at Wessex brewery Wiltshire but moved in 2015 now on White Cliff Farm outside of Swanage. The brewery brews consistent no nonsense beers with a female Brewster Jean, and has an expanding free-trade market alongside bottling.
ISLE OF PURBECK Est. 2003
Studland
A 10 barrel family brewery within the grounds of the Bankes Arms pub. The brewery produces a consistently good core range of beers using all traditional methods and mostly British ingredients.
KNIGHT LIFE Est. 2018
Bournemouth
A 10 barrel family brewery within the grounds of the Bankes Arms pub. The brewery produces a consistently good core range of beers using all traditional methods and mostly British ingredients.
POOLE HILL BREWERY Est. 2018
Southbourne, Bournemouth
Owner and Brewster Jennifer Tingay originally worked for Ringwood before starting her own range in 2013 at the Town Mill brewery, Lyme Regis. Now based its present location with an 80 barrel plant and taproom, Jennifer brews traditional and modern keg beers.
REMEDY OAK BREWERY Est. 2020
Woodlands
With links going back to 2018 on a tiny kit the brewery is now within the grounds of the Remedy Oak Golf Club brewing traditional ales. The brewery takes its name from the Remedy Oak tree in nearby Wimborne St Giles.
SANDBANKS BREWERY Est. 2018
Poole
The brewery is on Nuffield industrial estate on the premises of the former Bournemouth brewery. An ever expanding range of one-off beers alongside a core range with good free trade distribution. The brewery has a tap room.
SIXPENNY BREWERY Est. 2007
Cranborne
A traditional core range of beers situated in farm buildings with a tap room. Started by Scott and Lorraine Wayland originally s in North Surrey as Wayland’s, before re-locating to Dorset and its present location in 2016. The only brewery I know of with original Doctor Who props.
WAY OUTBACK BREWING CO. Est. 2017
Southbourne, Bournemouth
Originally brewed in a garden shed the brewery now brews traditional keg beers and is seldom seen in cask. The brewery has its own tap room and is available for functions and events.