Castle Rock Brewery

Castle Rock's roots predate the brewery itself. Chris Holmes opened the Old King's Arms in Newark at a time when the pub industry was dominated by large brewers, choosing instead to focus on real ale served in welcoming, traditional surroundings. That approach to independent pubs and good beer laid the foundations for what would eventually become Castle Rock, with the brewery opening around twenty years later in 1997.

Castle Rock quickly developed a reputation for cask-conditioned beer, establishing a core range alongside an increasingly varied programme of seasonal and one-off brews. A defining moment came in 2010 when Harvest Pale was named CAMRA's Supreme Champion Beer of Britain, bringing national attention to the Nottingham brewery and becoming one of the most significant achievements in Castle Rock's history.

Production today centres on Castle Rock's 65-hectolitre brewery in Nottingham. The main brewhouse is complemented by a much smaller 160-litre pilot system used for trials and experimentation, allowing the brewing team to develop new ideas without committing immediately to full-scale production. Carefully sourced malt and hops are combined with a meticulously maintained in-house wet yeast culture used across many Castle Rock beers and regarded by the brewery as an important part of their distinctive character.

While cask beer remains fundamental to Castle Rock's identity, its range has broadened considerably over the years. Five beers from its core range have received recognition at national level, while seasonal and one-off releases explore both traditional brewing and more experimental contemporary styles. Production now spans cask, keg and cans, giving the brewery room to maintain its established real-ale heritage while continuing to experiment with different approaches to beer.

Castle Rock has developed alongside an extensive pub business, with more than twenty venues forming its extended family across the East Midlands. Rather than applying the same formula to every site, the company operates a mixture of city-centre craft beer bars, traditional country pubs and community-focused neighbourhood locals, adapting individual venues to the communities they serve while maintaining the wider values of the Castle Rock business.

Community and environmental responsibility have also become prominent parts of Castle Rock's identity. The brewery describes supporting local causes, protecting the environment and creating opportunities for its team and customers as central commitments alongside brewing and hospitality. This broader approach reflects the business that has grown from its early real-ale pub roots into a substantial Nottingham brewery and regional pub operator.

Visitors can explore the brewing side of Castle Rock through its brewery tour programme, learning more about how its beers are produced in Nottingham. More than two decades after the brewery opened, the original objective remains deliberately straightforward: running great pubs and brewing great beer, combining Castle Rock's established cask heritage with a continuing appetite for new beers and experimentation.