The 30 Best Breweries, Micro Breweries & Brewpubs in Greater Manchester

The origin of Track Brewing is fascinating - founded by Sam, who came up with the idea for the brewery whilst cycling between the East and West coasts of the United States, as part of a 35,000 mile, two-year cycling odyssey around the world! When Sam returned to the UK he set about learning more about the brewing process, before setting up Track Brewing in a fantastic location beside Manchester’s Piccadilly Station.

Since 2014, Track has grown and established themselves as brewers of fine beers which are pale and hoppy with a focus on adventure. ‘Sonoma’ is an American-style pale ale with Centennial, Citra and Mosaic hops that is beautifully refreshing, juicy and perfect for sunny summer days. ‘Language Barrier’ is a unique imperial coconut stout that is bursting with dark chocolate, vanilla and coconut flavours - a really interesting beer that is boozy, but easy to knock back.

Track Brewing’s beer is available at good local pubs and the brewery also has an online shop with national shipping and free local delivery.

Whether it’s at a sunny festival in your favourite local pub or relaxing at home - enjoying a tasty beer or two with your mates is undeniably one of the best experiences in the world. ShinDigger know this, it’s what inspires them to brew a range of exciting beers that are made for socialising. Founded in 2013 by friends Paul and George, their brewing journey began when they were at university, where they would sell their own brewed beer to other students at parties. From there, ShinDigger has grown into a successful business that sells their beer around the world!

The beer that ShinDigger creates is fun, unpretentious and fresh - so fresh in fact, that if you’re based in Greater Manchester you can get it delivered to your door on the same day that you order! You can also catch their beer at many pubs in and around Manchester.

Try their ‘Mango Unchained’, a fun and fruity session IPA with delicate mango and pineapple flavours. If you have an appetite for something a bit stronger, check out their ‘Shingri-La’, a bold and imposing New-England IPA that’s thick and aromatic.

Cloudwater started brewing in early 2015, and has since created over 700 different beers, including collaborations with large breweries including Brewdog and Magic Rock. The Cloudwater range spans from traditional English style beers to international varieties, and rather than brewing a core range, they create a selection which changes through the year.

Cloudwater is considered by most to be the leading the way in the Manchester brewing scene, and as well as winning awards for the best beer in Manchester and bagging a spot in the top 100 beers in the world, they have also been named the 5th best brewery globally by beer site ratebeer. They operate taprooms at Piccadilly in Manchester as well as Bermondsey in London. They also operate an annual not for profit festival, 'Friends & Family & Beer'.

A Manchester brewery with big ambitions, Wander Beyond was founded in 2017 and since then, they’ve been on a mission to produce wonderful beer that is packed with flavour. This creative team makes exciting beers inspired by their love for adventure and the great outdoors and this is reflected in their incredibly cool packaging, which is just about some of the most original out there. In 2018 the brewery won ‘Breakthrough Brewery of the Year’ at the Honest Brew Independent Beer Awards.

Take a sip of their ‘La Adelita’ imperial stout and you’re transported to a Mexican celebration! This stout is thick and flavoured with cacao nibs, vanilla, cinnamon and chipotle peppers that bring to mind a fiery chocolate cake. If you’re looking for something a little smoother, try their ‘Coral Connection’ Imperial Milkshake IPA. This is a creamy, fruity concoction with Mosaic and Citra dry hops that is both cooling and refreshing.

You can visit their online store to buy their beers, with free shipping on all orders over £59.95.

Based in the heart of Bolton, partners Ryan, Liam and Kevin work hard on their range of award-winning beers. Founded in 2016, this microbrewery is incredibly proud of their Northern heritage and the fantastic beers that they create.

Northern Monkey’s ‘Noisy Neighbour’ is a smooth New England IPA that has the perfect balance of Amarillo and Mosaic hops, giving this beer a full and fruity flavour. ‘Dirty Harry’ is a golden ale that combines rye malt and cascade hops for a full-bodied taste with caramel notes.

Northern Monkey’s brews can be bought from lots of local pubs, with online orders and local delivery available. The brewery also has a rustic bar on site where you can sample their fine beers.

Blackjack Brewery’s beers have become a staple on the Manchester beer scene, as much for their delivery service of keg beer as for anything else! Offering free national shipping for orders over £50, it’s easy to fill up your basket with their range of beers, bags in boxes, ciders, and mini kegs. As an online business with no physical shop open to the public, Blackjack Brewery’s services are perfect if you’re planning a few chilled beers at home, or perhaps a small family event such as a BBQ. Their Helles lager is probably the pick of the company’s beers – they claim that it takes so long to make that it’s exceedingly rare, even in bars and pubs which stock it!

Under the leadership of founder Rik, First Chop has become one of the most well-known craft beers brands in Manchester, with instantly recognizable cans of colour and an even more recognizable taste. They also have a very successful range of gluten-free beers. Stocked in bars and pubs across the city, you can even find First Chop Brewing beers in national supermarket chains such as Co-Op, demonstrating the success that the business has seen. Beers can be purchased online in cases of up to 48 individual drinks, and the brand even has a small range of merchandise, also available on their website.

The Saturday brewery tours at Alphabet Brewing Company include a tasting session and a presentation of how the beers are brewed. There’s then plenty of time to enjoy a few more of the brewery’s craft beers in the onsite taproom. Located just a 5-minute walk from Piccadilly Station, this ideal location means that the bar is always busy, boasting an excellent atmosphere. And the beers themselves are top quality, with IPA’s, pale ales, and tropical IPA’s on sale all year round.

Created by Andy and Paul, friends who shared two great passions; a love of beer and the TV show Flight Of The Conchords! Taking inspiration from a blossoming micro-brewing scene, these pals started Manchester Brewing Company in 2016 with a mission to make a mark, featuring their own take on traditional beer with a modern twist.

Sticking to their roots, Manchester Brewing Company beers often feature names of the things that make MCR famous. These include ‘Factory Pale Ale’, which is named after Manchester’s well-known mills and the world-famous record label which was home to Joy Division and the Happy Mondays, amongst others. The beer has warm and fruity hops with a distinctly bitter taste. ‘Some Might Say’ is a delicious IPA that is named for one of the best-known songs from Manchester sons Oasis.

Catch their beer at independent pubs and bottle shops around the city or shoot them a DM on Facebook for information about where to find them.

Based in Salford, Pomona Island sell a range of quirky craft beers in their online shop, ranging from stouts to Indian Pale Ales and more. They also sell a range of glasses and merchandise for fans of the brand to enjoy. The company opened a bar in the famous Mayfield Depot in October 2020. Known as “Escape to Freight Island”, the bar is an outdoor heated venue, with a range of bars and food stalls. As well as Pomona Island’s own products, wine and cocktails are also available, and the large benches are perfect for groups of friends planning a get together.

Since 2012, this brewery has produced some of the tastiest beers around, from their base in the village of Deeply Vale in the Pennine foothills near Bury. Co-founded by George and James, who have a range of great-value, quality beers. Their approach to developing flavours means their creations are some of the most consistently enjoyable.

Deeply Vale Brewery doesn’t currently offer delivery or takeaway, but you can taste their beer at local pubs.

Sample their award-winning ‘DV8’, a deliciously smooth breakfast stout with rich coffee and chocolate tones. Alternatively, try their ‘Ripper’ - a New Zealand pale ale made with Rakau hops that give a fruity flavour with a touch of citrus.

Friends Andy, Paul, Toby, David and Paul started the Four Kings Brewery in 2016 with the simple aim of producing beers that they’d enjoy. Their brewery in Hyde features state-of-the-art equipment, which the Four Kings master brewers use to create a range of fresh, well-balanced beers. They’ve been recognised with awards including the ‘Pride of Tameside – Best Food and Drink Business of the year 2019’.

The Four Kings Brewery in Hyde includes a stylish onsite bar that’s well-stocked and designed to be comfortable and interesting. The brewery also offers bottled beer that can be picked up or delivered locally.

The Four Kings have a very good Porter that is subtly flavoured, a ‘Gold’ bitter that is hoppy and fruity, and an IPA that is incredibly easy to drink.

Based in a lovingly restored 19th Century, Grade II-listed building in the very centre of the city, Wigan Brewhouse is a modern brewery known for its delicious beers and ciders. This company truly embraces Northern soul, with their award-winning range of creative beers with New World hops that build on the traditions of cask ale.

Wigan Brewhouse offers a click & collect service and delivery, or alternatively why not get a tour of their beautiful brewery (including lots of beer and pizza!)

When it comes to their selection of beer, there’s a lot to choose from - try the ‘Old Boston’ a delightfully smooth porter with bitter roasted malts and fruity plum flavours. The ‘California’ is a golden ale made with American hops and gently-kilned malts that’s light, refreshing and very drinkable!

Providing high-quality ales to discerning drinkers, Rochdale’s Mighty Medicine has a rebellious attitude that is inspired by the days when pirates ruled the high seas and consumed copious amounts of strong & hoppy ale!

You can bank on this microbrewery’s beer having attitude and character, so when you say ‘bottoms up’ you know you’ll be enjoying a proper ale. Ahoy, Matey… the ‘Pirate Juice’ is a hoppy IPA that’s packed with fruity malt flavours. The ‘Madchester Cream’ is a light, smooth and creamy pale ale that is perfect for guzzling on a hot and sunny day.

Mighty Medicine’s purpose-built brewery bar ‘The Medicine Tap’ is at the heart of the brewery, visit to try their fantastic selection of beers and food. Alternatively, you can find their beer at a range of independent pubs around Manchester.

Located in the heart of Stockport, this microbrewery is renowned for its high-quality Real Ales. This brewery creates both traditional and new-world beer that have won prestigious awards at the like of the Manchester Beer Festival.

Stockport Brewing Company’s ‘Cascade’ pale ale is one of the finest in the North, with a smooth taste and floral flavours. It’s definitely worth trying their ‘Ginger Tinge’, a fresh bitter with a subtle hint of ginger.

Find Stockport Brewing Company beers at good local pubs in and around the city.

Based in the rolling hills of Saddleworth, Donkeystone beer truly has an identity all of its own. This microbrewery is passionate in their mission to create properly-crafted modern, artisan beer for their community of beer-lovers.

Donkeystone’s beers are so good, they’ve been recognised for their quality and taste - the ‘Notorious DIPa’ won a GOLD award for the best Imperial IPA in the North West. Alternatively, try the complex ‘Javanilla’, a stout that combines natural vanilla pods and Java espresso coffee beans into the cask maturing process for a delightfully rich, flavoursome beer.

Donkey Brewing Co. has a tap room that is perfect for sampling their range of beers… and the vibes are always just as good as the beer. Donkey Brewing’s beer can also be found at local pubs and purchased online from their website.

Established in 2016, this independent microbrewery grew from a garden-shed operation to become a shining star of the Greater Manchester brewing scene. Their modern-style beers are vegan-friendly and still crafted by hand using traditional processes.

Based in Altrincham, Stubborn Mule is a producer of beer with character and their tap bar is a hub for the local community. With room for up to 50 people, there’s plenty of space for everyone to enjoy delicious beers from the 10 line tap bar. The bar also holds different events including comedy nights.

Stubborn Mule’s beer is very much American-inspired, with US hops featuring across their range of beer. The ‘Absolute Banker’ is a highly-rated US pale ale with a clean citrus flavour that is incredibly tasty. For something completely different, try the ‘Gingerbread Milk Stout’. This sweet stout has notes of cinnamon, ginger and honey and it’s so good that it won an award for best beer at the 2019 Bradford Beer Festival. You can pick up beer from the brewery and they also offer free local delivery.

For more than 10 years, Blackedge Brewing has been producing award-winning beers using the highest quality natural ingredients. Based in Horwich, founders Shaun and Wayne have made a real name for themselves as creators of well-rounded, consistent brews across a range of categories.

Blackedge’s ‘Hop’ is a refreshing pale ale with a hint of spice and floral aromas. Their ‘Brewers Gold’ is a single-hopped blonde ale with lemon and blackcurrant flavours that’s incredibly tasty. The brewery offers free local delivery on orders over £30 and nationwide delivery for a small charge.

Blackedge also has two locations where you can buy and enjoy their wonderful beer. ‘The Brewery Bar’ opened in 2015 and is located directly above the brewery - offering a relaxed place to sup a thirst-quenching beer. ‘The Brewery Tap’ is a newer addition, opened in 2019 it provides a similar atmosphere in a more intimate environment.

Straying from the crowd, Beer Nouveau offer a range of historic & heritage beers using recipes from times gone by, including Ancient Egypt and the Vikings! Their beer is stored and served the traditional way, using wooden casks. The brewery also creates a number of experimental beers that often contain foraged ingredients and hops grown in allotments and gardens across the city.

The ‘Peterloo’ is a dark-roasted porter that is smooth, smoky and the kind of beer you never get tired of drinking. Alternatively, try the ‘Satanic Mills’ Stout with its light hops that produce a rich, malty chocolate taste that’s incredibly tasty.

The brewery has a proper no-frills tap which offers great beer and live sport.

Bolton’s oldest operational brewery, Bank Top has been offering a mix of award-winning beers since 1995. They now brew over a million beers every year from their picturesque location in a grade two listed building. You won’t find anything artificial in their beer as the brewery only uses exceptional-quality ingredients including malt that is processed using the same methods that have been used for hundreds of years.

Bank Top’s signature brew is ‘Flat Cap’, a pale bitter with a hoppy citrus flavour that’s as traditional as the name would suggest! Another favourite is ‘Port O’Call’, a characterful and dark porter that has a unique flavour thanks to the casks, which have vintage ruby port added to them.

The brewery operates a number of pubs, which all operate with tradition in mind. You won’t find a TV or fruit machines, but thankfully you will be treated to quality ales and proper beer gardens. What more could you want!

With beer-lovers in mind, Squawk has been brewing in Manchester since 2013. Their beer is progressive, with traditional roots and their mindset is ethical and sustainable. Squawk are proud to be from Manchester and with these guys, there’s a real focus on the local community and the people that will be consuming their delicious beer.

At Squawk, flavours and ingredients are there to be experimented with and this has helped them to create a lively range of delicious beer. ‘Muta’ is an imperial IPA with a sweet and smooth taste that’s full of tropical fruit flavours. ‘Pavo’ is a delicate pale ale that’s light, fruity and superbly clear.

Squawk beer can be bought from local pubs and their website, with free local delivery available.

Since 2007, Prospect Brewery has been one of the leading independent brewers of real ale in the North West. In 2017 they moved from their first home in the village of Standish to their new brewery in the centre of Wigan. The brewery is very attached to their local community and uses the mining heritage of the city in the names of their beer.

The choice of beer available from Prospect often rotates, but they have a number of absolute classics that are well worth trying. ‘Silver Tally’ is a creamy, light pale ale with a full hoppy quality. ‘Nutty Slack’ is a dark mild that’s bursting with flavours including chocolate, coffee and liquorice.

Prospect’s beer is available for local delivery and can also be enjoyed at over 100 pubs in the North West.

Producing contemporary beer with a respect for the traditions of brewing, The Runaway Brewery is one of the finest Manchester Microbreweries. This independent business creates beer that is instantly recognisable as British, but with an international influence. The brewers focus on the process of creating their beer, with their diverse range including many styles, all of which are unfiltered and unpasteurised.

Runaway Brewery’s popular IPA has a malty flavour with spicy, floral hops that is very easy to drink! The ‘Smoked Porter’ is a luxuriously rich beer with sweet and smoky, warming tones.

The Runaway Brewery has a lovely tap room, bottle shop and beer garden which are all very sociable, plus they currently offer local delivery and collection from the brewery.

A multi-award-winning family brewery, Dunham Massey takes its name from the town in which it is based. After many years working at the Tetley Walker’s brewery, Dunham Massey’s founder John set up his own brewery by renovating and converting a disused barn on National Trust land. The brewery focuses on creating traditional beer using established ingredients, with no added sugar.

Dunham Massey’s ‘Chocolate Cherry’ is an English mild ale that’s dark, smooth and full of both cherry and chocolate flavour. This beer has won many awards, including Champion Speciality Beer of Britain 2012. Another favourite is ‘Big Tree’, a full-bodied traditional English bitter that’s creamy, with a lovely balance of malt and hops.

The beers that Dunham Massey produces are available at all good local pubs and direct to pick up from the brewery shop.

Another brewery with a large online presence is Pictish, based in Rochdale. Using only the finest ingredients, all of the brewery’s diverse range of beers and ales are brewed locally, ensuring consistent quality. Their colourful cans have become well known in the Manchester area and you can stock up your own supply from their online shop. The brewery itself is tiny and not particularly exciting, as admitted by the company itself. But when it comes to their beers, the proof is in the pudding. With cans costing around £3 each, it’s not the cheapest beer you’ll ever drink, but it’s up there with the best.

OL markets itself as a nano brewery, which is an accurate description of the tiny bar they have established in the very centre of Manchester, just a stone’s throw from the Metropolitan University. The bar seats only a handful of guests, but the beer on offer is excellent, with a range of locally sourced and home crafted beers. The staff really know their stuff and will be able to help you choose the right beer if you’re unsure what you’ll like. The bar is located in a square, with a number of food stalls situated around the venue, making it the perfect place for socialising. Bear in mind that the venue doesn’t accept cash, so you’ll need to bring your card with you.

Bury’s Irwell Works Brewery is a cornerstone of the local community, housing not only a top-quality brewery, but a friendly brew pub. Quirk beers such as the Costa del Salford summer ale and Marshmallow Unicorn milk stout are both served in the pub and sold online. The bar itself has the feel of a typical country pub, with a traditional wooden bar and furniture – dogs are also welcome in the venue. The pub also hosts a range of weekly events – expect live music on Wednesdays and Thursdays, with other seasonal events hosted throughout the year.

There’s only one beer on sale at Manchester Union Brewery. Manchester Union Lager is the company’s creation, brewed using unique techniques and the best Central European hops to create what they claim is the finest lager in Manchester. Their lager can be bought from the company’s online shop alongside a variety of merch (think sweatshirts, T-shirts, glasses and even a beer fridge). They also have a small taproom where their lager is served straight to customers – it is also sold in a range of independent pubs and bars throughout the city.

The Church Inn is a rural pub on the outskirts of Oldham, also acting as a restaurant, and with a brewery bolted onto the side – what more could you possibly need? The family friendly food menu includes hearty classics such as lasagna, lamb shanks and a roast dinner, whilst the bar stocks an array of beers, wines, spirits and more, including the produce of the Saddleworth Brewery. Classics such as the Saddleworth More bitter have been in production since the 1990s, and the brewery has won awards for the quality of its beers. If you’re a fan of craft beers and a good meal then there are few better locations in the Greater Manchester area.

One of Stockport’s finest drinking establishments, The Hope Inn is renowned throughout the area for its onsite brewery. Fool Hardy Ales has won numerous awards over the years and The Hope Inn has become the perfect place for owner Martin to sell his products. Around 6 of the 11 on-tap beers at any given time are rotating Fool Hardy Ales which are brewed onsite. The pub also does a range of other drinks, such as ciders, wines, and spirits. These can be enjoyed in the stylish old country pub itself, or out in the large beer garden. There are board games to play onsite too, and dogs are welcome. Check them out on Instagram here.

Using the best ingredients and the best brewing processes, Beatnikz Republic have been creating a diverse selection of beers for many years. From pale ales to sours and from lagers to wheat bears, there’s sure to be something for everyone on their online shop, with mini kegs, selection cases and more ensuring everyone can sample their produce. Beatnikz Republic also operate a bar in the heart of Manchester’s Northern Quarter. The NQ bar features 50% Beatnikz Republic beers and 50% other products, so there’s a great variety. The bar itself is bright and modern, with long tables creating a social atmosphere.

Since opening in 2014, Brewsmith Brewery has gained a reputation for its excellent beers. The tiny site is actually a microbrewery, where exquisite beers such as the Brewsmith Bitter and the Brewsmith Mosaic have long been enjoyed by residents of Bury. The beers can be purchased online for delivery, but only to postcodes in the Bury area. Alternatively, the brewery runs small tap days, when punters can come down to the venue and taste an array of their award-winning beers, as well as enjoying a range of snacks and catering from a local partner.

Housed within the recent First Street development, The Gas Works is part of an up and coming region of Manchester which is really taking off. This brewery and pub is quickly establishing itself as an integral part of the local community, with a range of beers brewed within metres of the tables and bar stools where customers enjoy them. As well as the extensive drinks menu, The Gas Works serves food, with popular menu items including burritos and burgers, as well as classic sides and snacks such as chicken wings and nachos. The modern looking pub also has some outside seating, so guests can take advantage of the occasional day of nice northern weather!

While most of the breweries making the list are newer kids on the block, we couldn't possibly miss this Manchester brewing legend off the list. One of Manchester’s largest breweries, Joseph Holt owns and manages pubs up and down the UK. In any and all of these establishments you’re sure to find some of the brewery’s range of incredible craft beers. From classics such as Crystal Lager and Joseph Holt Bitter to more quirky options including 1849 Holt and Maple Moon, the brewery produces a beverage to everyone’s taste. The brewery has been operating since 1860, when it was opened by Joseph Holt himself, making it one of the oldest breweries in the UK. In fact, the brewery is still housed in exactly the same building as it was originally founded in. Beers, merch, kegs and more can also be purchased online.

This microbrewery is connected to Joseph Holt, just as many breweries and pubs are across the Manchester area. Bootleg Brewing microbrewery is based at the Horse & Jockey pub in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, a pub owned by Joseph Holt Brewery since 2013. As well as selling a range of Joseph Holt beers, the Horse & Jockey also offers some of Bootleg Brewing’s own branded beers. Likewise, they can be found in pubs across the Joseph Holt empire.

Established in 2015, Serious Brewing Company was set up by husband and wife team Ken and Jenny. This family-run brewery produces a range of bottle-conditioned beers and quality cask ales with consistency and quality at heart, drawing influences from Belgium, America and Britain.

Serious Brewing has a fantastic online shop, which makes ordering easy. They offer collection from their brewery or free local delivery on orders over £10.

One of their most popular brews ‘Goldrush’ is a golden pale ale brewed with Belgian Abbaye yeast and flavoured with delicate English juggle hops. If your taste is more for an IPA, check out their ‘Redsmith IPA’. Balanced with American Centennial and Cascade hops, this traditional copper-coloured IPA has a sturdy bitterness and a malty base.