A while ago I was lucky enough to visit the Hook Norton Brewery and do a tour of their brewery. Wow – what a great brewery and so much history inside that building. From the moment you walk in, it feels less like a modern industrial brewery and more like a working museum where brewing just never stopped. It feels super authentic – the smells, the worn steps, and the sense that generations of brewers have been doing things much the same way for well over a century.
At the time of the tour I planned to take notes and give you a detailed blog post, but instead I took lots of pictures and recorded very little details! I hope you enjoy some of the photos from the tour.
Inside a Traditional Tower Brewery
The traditional tower brewery design really stands out from other breweries that I have visited. Beer is moved by gravity rather than pumps, which gives the whole place a calm, unhurried feel.
The old steam engine always seems to steal the show – not just because it is impressive, but because it is still part of the brewery’s identity rather than a forgotten relic.
Leaving the brewery left me with a huge respect for how Hook Norton has managed to stay independent while holding onto its traditions. Whether it is the Shire horses, the historic kit, or simply the atmosphere of the place, it reminds me that brewing is as much about people and place as it is about beer. For anyone who loves traditional British brewing, it is clearly a special place to visit. Book a tour on their website using the following link.
