Wylam Best Bitter

Newcastle has always had a strong brewing history, but Wylam helped drag that story firmly into the modern era without forgetting where it came from.

Founded in 2000 by John Boyle and Robin Leighton in the village of Wylam, Northumberland, the brewery started life in a potting shed before gradually growing into one of the most respected names in British craft beer. Eventually the operation moved into the remarkable Palace of Arts building in Newcastle’s Exhibition Park, a restored 1929 structure that now functions as brewery, taproom, music venue and general excuse to spend far longer there than originally planned.

The beers cover a broad range of styles, though hop-forward pale ales and IPAs remain central to the brewery’s identity. Bright citrus, tropical fruit, soft bitterness and plenty of freshness run through much of the range. Alongside them sit lagers, stouts, collaborations and seasonal releases that show the brewery’s willingness to keep evolving.

Part of what makes Wylam stand out is consistency. The brewery has managed to remain relevant through multiple shifts in British beer culture without feeling like it is desperately chasing trends.

A lot of breweries talk about community. Wylam built a brewery inside one of Newcastle’s most distinctive public spaces and filled it with beer and live music. That tends to make the point rather effectively.