Patrick MacMahon looks around the county finding much Brewery News to celebrate
As we delve into the Summer there’s a jubilance around Oxfordshire’s breweries, with delicious new drops, whisperings of new watering holes throwing open their doors and some even taking the national beer scene by storm… Your quarterly round up of all things beer is here.
Tap Social Movement gears up for a huge summer
In a particularly ambitious move, Tap is collaborating with 10 guest breweries to create 10 unique collaboration beers. All of them debuted on draught at the Change is Brewing with Friends festival in Botley on June 6 before being released nationally in can via Brewser. Another fantastic example of the collaborative nature of the beer industry.
Tap Social is preparing to open its fifth venue, Day Release, at Signal Yard in Milton Park, near Didcot this summer. The new venue promises an all-day café, bakery offerings from Proof Social Bakehouse, a full bar, community events, and even an on-site brew school. Get yourself down!
Hook Norton Brewery celebrates milestones old and new
The Hook Norton Festival of Fine Ales, also known as the Hooky Beer Fest, takes place on Saturday July 18. The 2026 festival will feature over 100 beers and ciders from across the UK, live music, and food stalls. It raises money for Blood Cancer UK and local community projects, and has raised over £450,000 since the festival started over 30 years ago.
Collaborative brewing also continues to flourish. Bristol’s Arbor Ales returned in April for another collaborative brew, while Oakham Ales is scheduled to return in July. Look out for Points of Brew, a 3.6% light copper cask ale made with Five Points Brewing due to be available from early July.
Hook Norton is never short of things to celebrate, and this summer is no different with an exciting roster of beers and awards to match. Most notably, the brewery has released Days Like These, a limited-edition 3.5% ABV cask ale brewed to celebrate Managing Director James Clarke’s 35 years with the brewery. In a fitting tribute, the beer’s ABV mirrors James’ years of service, and he has brewed it alongside his son Ed Clarke, now lead brewer, highlighting the continuation of one of British brewing’s best-known family traditions.
Meanwhile, celebrations are already underway for Old Hooky, which turns 50 next year. The iconic strong ale has kicked off its anniversary period in style, securing a Silver Medal at the 2026 International Brewing & Cider Awards, otherwise known as the “Oscars of Brewing”.
Hooky Gold celebrates its own milestone this year, reaching 20 years since its first brew in 2006. Hook Norton is marking the occasion throughout June with “golden moments” across its pub estate, competitions, special events and tap takeovers.
No Hook Norton update would be complete without mention of the brewery’s famous shire horses, which have begun another busy season of public appearances alongside their traditional Thursday deliveries to the Pear Tree in Hook Norton. Upcoming appearances include the Shropshire Show, Bloxham Steam Rally, Fairport Convention at Cropredy and Bunkfest.
Charlbury Beer Festival
This year’s festival is set for Saturday, June 27, when it will celebrate serving 100,000 pints since it started in 1998. It will offer around 60 real ales, over 20 craft beers, a range of ciders and perries, wine, gin, and Pimm’s; and a selection of food, live music and other entertainment, plus the World Aunt Sally Singles Championships. The event, at the cricket club, raised £340,000 for charities last year.
Loose Cannon scoops top prize at SIBA awards
Oxfordshire’s independent brewing scene was strongly represented at the 2026 SIBA Midlands & West Indie Beer Awards, with Loose Cannon Brewery taking one of the competition’s biggest honours. The brewery was named Overall Cask Champion for its 8 Double IPA Cool Name to Follow, praised for its citrus and resinous pine character. The beer also secured Gold in both the keg and bottle and can categories, underlining the brewery’s continued reputation for bold, modern beer styles.
Loose Cannon Brewery additionally earned Bronze for Abingdon Bridge in the Cask British Bitter category, and Silver for its low alcohol Lemonicious. The results highlighted the strength and diversity of brewing talent across Oxfordshire and the wider Midlands & West region.
Chadlington Brewery builds momentum
West Oxfordshire’s Chadlington Brewery continues enjoying a strong run into summer.
Both Chad ESB and Red are performing well, while sales of its Pilsner have exploded as warmer weather boosts demand for lighter styles. The brewery’s contract with Kati Patang to brew its signature Saffron Lager continues apace, with a prestigious listing in a London Michelin starred restaurant demonstrating the appetite for high quality beer in the restaurant trade.
Commercially, Chadlington has secured a permanent line at Oxford’s White Rabbit pub, where its Helles Lager is now pouring full-time. Summer venues including the Medley bar and Isis Farmhouse are also important seasonal outlets for the brewery.
Its summer specials programme is also taking shape. April saw the release of Hazy Logic, a 5.5% Belgian Witbier described as “softly cloudy and refreshingly perplexing”, not so logical perhaps so thoughts on this one welcomed. May brought the annual Pride NEIPA, brewed in collaboration with Witney Pride, with 30p from every can sold supporting LGBTQ+ education and celebration across West Oxfordshire.
Local beer scene continues evolving
Apart from openings by Scarlet River in Witney and BMAN at Donnington Bridge in Oxford, there are plans to revive Oxbrew with a new taproom at Symm House in Osney Mead, West Oxford.
Bristol Beer Factory comes out top
Independence (4.6%), a premium pale ale, has been crowned CAMRA’s Champion Beer of Britain 2026, with the Jolly Farmers in Oxford one of the first local outlets to offer it. The Silver award went to Wildcat (5.1%), a premium bitter by Cairngorm, and the Bronze award to Alfie’s Revenge (6.5%), a strong ale by Driftwood Spars.
Challenges remain for independent brewers
Despite the optimism and activity, the wider industry continues to face significant pressure.
Independent operators across Oxfordshire continue to warn of rising costs, with increased business rates, higher National Insurance contributions, energy costs and the ongoing burden of 20% VAT all weighing heavily on pubs and breweries alike. Several operators have described conditions as beyond breaking point highlighting the difficult balance between maintaining quality, investing in growth and keeping pints affordable for drinkers.
We all know that more needs to be done by the Government to help local independent brewers and hospitality venues, which represent nothing short of pillars of the communities they operate in… The very least we can do is support them with feet on the ground and pints in our hands, and with some sunny months ahead why not do just that!
Oxford Brewers Alliance
Local brewers have donated a total of £12,000 to four charities – three that are close to home and one close to the industry. The proceeds of the successful Oxford Beer Bash, sponsored by NFU Insurance and last held at the former TOAD distillery in Oxford’s South Park in 2022, have made these donations possible. TOAD moved out of Oxford in 2024 but has announced it will return to the same site in June 2027, which raises the possibility that the Beer Bash might happen there again.
The four charities that have been chosen are Helen & Douglas House, the Earth Trust, North Oxfordshire Aid (for Ukraine) and the Licensed Trade Charity. The donations were presented at a special event at Hook Norton Brewery, pictured below.
