Top Independent UK Craft Breweries

A overview of some our favourite craft breweries in the UK

🎯 Cloudwater Brew Co (Manchester)

• Launched in 2014, Cloudwater was the only UK brewery to feature in RateBeer’s global top 10 (#2 in 2018) (instagram.com, en.wikipedia.org).

• Distinctive for its hop-forward seasonal beers, non-alcoholic beverages, and Manchester/London taprooms.

  
  

🎯 Polly’s Brew Co (Mold, North Wales)

• Since 2018, Polly’s has scaled rapidly from a small setup to brewing multiple times weekly .

• Known for pale ales, DIPAs, sours, and cult-core Icons series; collaborates widely with other top craft breweries.

  
  

🎯 Wylam Brewery (Newcastle upon Tyne)

• Founded in 2000, relocated in 2016 to a Grade II listed building (store.claptoncraft.co.uk, en.wikipedia.org).

• Produces US-style hoppy IPAs and real ales; features a vibrant taproom with music and events.

  
  

🎯 Vocation Brewery (Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire)

• Born in 2015 in a converted chicken shed; now produces ~10 million pints/year and exports globally .

• Celebrated for bold hop-driven beers, imperial stouts, barrel-aged releases, and several taprooms.

  
  

🎯 Tiny Rebel (Newport, Wales)

• Makers of Cwtch, the 2015 Supreme Champion Beer of Britain (goodbeerhunting.com, en.wikipedia.org).

• Offers a fruit-forward core range, available in cask, keg, bottle, and can.

  
  

🎯 Rebellion Beer Company (Marlow, Bucks)

• Established in 1993; praised for traditional ales and SIBA industry awards .

• Publishes a rotating series of monthly seasonal releases.

  
  

🎯 Magic Rock Brewing (Huddersfield)

• Earned rapid global attention, ranked #2 “Top New Brewery” on debut .

• Offers a mix of creative styles, though no longer independent (en.wikipedia.org).

  
  

🎯 Siren Craft Brew (Finchampstead, Berkshire)

• Founded in 2013; named “Best UK Brewery” by RateBeer in 2014 (en.wikipedia.org).

• Known for experimental beers like Limoncello IPA, barrel-aged series, plus a gluten-free lineup and sustainable brewery operations.

  
  

🎯 DEYA Brewing (Cheltenham, Gloucestershire)

• Independent brewery with a strong focus on hoppy ales, lagers, traditional styles, and mixed fermentation (deyabrewing.com).

• Highly respected for hazy IPAs and experimental releases, with active taproom and sustainability efforts.

  
  

🎯 Floc Brewing (Margate/Canterbury, Kent)

• Established in 2020, Floc produces hop-forward pale ales and IPAs known as “liquid sunshine” (craftmetropolis.co.uk).

• Vegetarian/vegan-friendly, independent, and community-focused—known for creative labels and events .

  
  

🎯 Northern Monk (Leeds, West Yorkshire)

• Founded in 2011; remains fiercely independent, launching crowdfunding rounds to expand .

• Noted for hazy pale ale Faith, session SUP, and a growing national footprint — including significant 2025 distribution deals (restaurantonline.co.uk).

  
  

Craft Scene Snapshot

These 12 breweries represent the full spectrum of the UK craft scene—from long-established traditionalists to emerging hop-forward innovators and community-driven independents. They brew everything from pale ales, sours, IPAs, stouts, lagers, barrel-aged and gluten-free beers, often with flagship taprooms and sustainable practices.