The Best Breweries, Micro-Breweries & Brew Pubs In Devon

Stannary Brewing Company began brewing beers in a garage in Tavistock in 2016. Started by friends Mark Stephens, Chris John & Garry White, driven by a passion to produce full flavoured beers that they love to drink. In 2018 they moved to new premises, incorporating the new state of the art brewery and taproom. The taproom is the heart of the brewery, serving their own brews along with a range of guest beers, local wines, and soft drinks, as wood fired pizza from Exe Valley Pizza Co on Fridays. They also hold regular live music events at the brewery If you can’t make it to the taproom, head to their online shop to buy for UK delivery.

Topsham Brewery is based in a warehouse on Exeter Quays. The brewery was founded in 2018 by Declan Beeson, Eric Eveleigh and Jason Virok They also host open mic nights in the taproom. They brew a range of 5 core beers, including their signature ‘Goat Walk’, a dry-hopped session IPA. They also offer an online shop for deliveries to Exeter.

Bays Brewery was setup in 2007 by Will Freeland, Mark Salmon and Peter Salmon, brewing two brews, ‘Best’ and ‘Gold’ for local pubs. In 2008 they won the first of what would be many awards. Today they have a core range of customer favourites, the Gold is still going strong, along with ‘Devon Dumping’, ‘Bays Topsail’ and ‘Devon Rock’ craft lager. They also have a range of seasonal beers as well as ‘Windfall’ their sparkling premium cider. Their full range is available to buy online, delivered direct to your door.

Lion Brewery was once a well-known name in Totnes, being one of the largest local employers and running pubs right across the region. They ceased trading in 1926, but the name and ethos of the brewery has been brought to life with the New Lion Brewery launching in 2013. They have 3 flagship beers Pandit IPA, Mane Event and Totnes Stout, and experiment to produce some quirkier brews, such as pumpkin ale, a chilli beer, and a mushroom stout. The brewery and taproom can be found on Shinners Bridge in Darlington, serving up their full range, as well as guest beers. You can buy to take away from the bottle shop or head to their online shop to order for home delivery.

Otter brewery was established back in 1990 in a farmhouse in Blackdown Hills, between Honiton and Taunton in Devon, and has grown over the years to become an established brand. They use the best quality malting UK barley, their own yeast culture, and water drawn from the wells sprung from the Rover Otter. The brewery won ‘Eco Building of the Year’ for the new cellar built in 2005. The cellar built underground to do away with the need for electric chilling systems and comes complete with a living sedum roof. The brewery produces a range of Otter beers, including bitter, amber and ale, a s well as Tarka lager, and wildsider lager, made for Otter by Aspalls, and a gin, distilled in the very barn that housed the original brewery. Brewery tours are available by prior arrangement and a range of the beers, gin, gifts, and merchandise are available to buy online for nationwide delivery.

Powderkeg apply a modern approach to a traditional process. All their beers are brewed by hand, with a 7-week process to dry hop and condition the beers. Heavily influenced by US craft brewing, Powderkeg use the best quality ingredient to produce top notch English craft beers. They have a great selection of gluten-free and vegan beers. Their brewing style is well reflected in the customer favourite ‘Speakeasy’ transatlantic pale ale, a US influenced English craft beer. For traditionalists, they have ‘Idler’ modern English Ale, made using British malts and hops. Their full range is available from their online shop with UK-wide delivery.

Exeter Brewery began lie in 2003, with a single ale, ‘Ferryman’. Present owner Alan Collyer took over in 2007 and in 2009 produced Devon’s first organic pale ale, the mild and hoppy ‘Avocet’. In 2013 they moved to new premises. They now produce a range of award-winning ales, as well as a Devon cider and IPL, Devon’s first organic lager. Their taproom is open every Thursday & Friday, serving their full selection of ales, lager, and cider, as well as a selection of pies with mash, peas, and gravy. Group brewery tours are available by arrangement.

At Dartmoor brewery they combine their own strain of yeast with the finest English hops and pure Dartmoor water to brew their range of award-winning beers. The brewery dates to 1994, when they brewed ‘Jail Ale’ which still wins awards to this day. Dartmoor Brewery produce over 3 million pints of their beers every year, including Dartmoor Best, Legend and Dartmoor IPA. There is no taproom, but you can buy all their beers online for delivery in the UK, or to collect from their brewery shop.

The Totnes Brewing Company is a family run brewery and craft ale bar in the centre of Totnes. The bar serves 80 different beers (yes, 80!) as well 10 gins and a good selection of whisky, gin, and rum. The beer garden offers views of Totnes castle, and the venue incorporates the Barrel House Ballroom, hosting live music and events. The staff are knowledgeable and love to chat about the beers on offer. They will happily offer you a taste of any beers you are interested in. The brewery itself is situated just behind the bar, operated by head brewer Gary keeping the bar well stocked with their classic brews, as well as experimenting from time to time. Past experimental beers include ‘Bronx Cheer’, made using local Asprington raspberries, and a ‘Lactose & Oats’ Double IPA. They also offer a membership plan for £5 which gives you 10% off all the cask beer.

Red Rock is based in a farm in South Devon. Family run since 2006 the brewery has won an array of awards and built up a strong following of devoted beer lovers. The beers are brewed using spring water from the spring on the farm. Red rock offers brewery tours, allowing you to see exactly how the beer is produced, finishing off with a few samples in the brewery tap room. Their tap room, the old workshop is housed in an old tractor barn and offers panoramic views of the Teign Estuary from the beer garden. As well as their own beers, the taproom also serves local cider and a great selection of UK gins. The online shop sells the full range for UK delivery.

South Hams brewery is a family run brewery, with Mark, Sam, and Olly Brooking brewing great quality beer hat’s distributed through Devon and beyond. The brewery, which used to be known as Sutton Brewery, brews tried and tested classics such as ‘Devon Pride’ and Eddystone, as well as modern ales such as ‘Pandemonium’ and the intriguingly named ‘Prawn Juice. The Tap house serves up the award-winning ales, along with local Ciders and a selection of great food.

Steel Brew started life in 2018, brewing out of a garage in Plymouth. They are now based in the Grade 1 listed Melville Building in Royal William Yard in Plymouth, where you can visit the brewery and enjoy a few beers in the taproom. They have fur core beers, ‘Mantra, ‘Plymouth’, ‘Bombshell’ and ‘Breakwater’, as well as limited run beers & IPA’s. The taproom itself is a chilled space with comfortable sofas and a good selection of their own brews and visiting favourites, and they also host ‘brew days’ where you can learn about their brewing process, an enjoy a tasting session along with a great selection of food. If you can’t make it down to the taproom, you can by the beers from their online shop for nationwide delivery.

Country Life Brewer brew beers inspired by the North Devon coast. The brewery began in 1997 with a 2 ½ barrel plant and have grown to produce a range of beers today, with the brewery based at the Big Sheep pub in Bideford. Their award-winning Country Life range features more traditional favourites and includes ‘Old Appledore’, a golden chestnut session ale, brewed using local Marris Otter malt, and ‘Black Boar’, a dark ruby Devon porter. Their Surf range features craft favourite like ‘Board Break’, an amber session ale with a zesty aroma. Country Life is the largest brewery in North Devon, and you can find their ales in several pubs across the region.

Black Tor Brewery was born in 2013 in the village of Christow. They have three core beers as well as a selection of seasonal and special ales, all brewed using the very best English malting barley. The award-winning beers can be bought directly from the brewery or from the online shop. They also produce Black Tor Rum, using the pure spring water from the Dartmoor National Park.

Exe Valley Brewery brew award winning beers using west country malts, English hops, and their own spring water. The brewery was established in 1984 as ‘Barron Brewery’ in an old cow shed. They change the name to Exe Valley Brewery in 1991 when the brewery was significantly expanded. They produce cask conditioned ale, with a small selection of bottled. The pop-up pub can be seen at local events, featuring their range of beer and local cider. While they don’t have a shop or visitor centre on site, they do occasional host charity open days which are worth looking out for. Their core range includes the award winning Dobs Best Bitter, the lighter Exe Valley Bitter, and the dry hopped Barrons Hopsit.

The Albert Inn is a pub for people who love pubs. It has a real rustic charm, it’s dog friendly, they serve good food, and they have the bonus of the brewery at the back, so you know your beer hasn’t travelled far. They brew a range of pale ales, IPA’s, and stouts, and they offer their full range, bottled for local delivery or collection.