A Guide to Craft Beer and Real Ale in Lincoln

Lincoln has some fantastic history when it comes to beer and brewing. During the 19th Century the city was littered with breweries shipping beer across the world, and pubs were so numerous there was a pub for approximately every 150 people in the city! Some of Lincoln's pubs have history going all the way back to the 16th Century and over the centuries have been home to many interesting and fascinating characters.

This history, coupled with the range of fantastic breweries the area has to offer in the 21st Century; meant that it was inevitable we would launch a walking tour taking in some of Lincoln's historic watering holes. Thus our Historic Pubs Walking Tour was born, which provides a great combination of history, socialising and the opportunity to try local craft beer and real ales.

We select the pubs we take guests to based on the drinks offer they provide. The opportunity for guests to try locally made beers is really important to us; we aim to showcase the best local beer that is being made in the area. To supplement our tours, we thought we would put together a guide to some of the best local breweries and some of our favourite beers on offer in local pubs.

Luda Brewing Co.

Luda Brewing Co. are a relatively young brewery began in Louth in 2021. Their goal is to create amazing tasting craft beers and are certainly one to watch in Lincolnshire. Perhaps their best beer is a easy drinking 4% stout called Black Mass, a great entry stout for those new to beer with fantastic flavours.

Batemans Brewery

The oldest and largest brewery in Lincolnshire, with a brewing heritage going back to 1874. Based in Wainfleet, Batemans Brewery have been innovating with beer for years and remain staunchly family run. Triple XB is arguably their best cask ale, but look out for the unique multi-grain taste of Combined Harvest in bottle.

Milestone Brewery

Technically located in Nottinghamshire, Milestone Brewery is named for the historic milestone that is located opposite them by the side of the A1. One of the brewery's staples is the quaffable pale and golden Cathedral Gold, named for Lincoln's cathedral. A personal favourite of ours is also their Raspberry Wheat Beer.

Ferry Ales Brewery

Arguably Lincoln's most well known and drank local ales. The Ferry Ales Brewery is situated on the outskirts of the city in Fiskerton and has a wide variety of local craft ales on offer. Recently acquired by local brewers Mitchell Brewing, it's Toasty Roasty is a firm favourite during the winter months.

Docks Beers

Popular craft beer brewery based a stone's throw from Grimsby's historic docks. Docks Beers is all about accessible craft beer, using the fortitude and history of the town as an influence. Look out for the 5.9% Knuckle Down, a strong but citrusy hazy New England IPA.

Brewster's Brewery

Sara Barton has been proudly brewing beer in nearby Grantham since 1998 and named Brewster's Brewery for the historic name for a female brewer. The brewery has won several awards for their beers, with the American pale ale Hop a Doodle Doo being a Champion Beer of Britain Finalist in 2015.

Pheasantry Brewery

Located at East Markham, just over the border in Nottinghamshire, Pheasantry Brewery is ran by local family farmers turned brewers. The name comes from the farm cottage known as the Pheasantry. Their Lincoln Tank Ale is a nod to the history of the invention of the fighting tank in Lincoln which supports the Lincoln Tank Memorial.

8 Sail Brewery

8 Sail Brewery is a local brewery with the close-knot community of Heckington at the very heart of what it does. Located in the shadow of the historically significant 8 sail windmill in the town, look out for their Victorian Porter, an award winning traditional 19th Century porter with an rich roasted coffee flavour.

Fancy a Drink With Us?

Why not join us on a Historic Pubs Walking Tour and sample some of these fantastic breweries whilst enjoying finding out more about the fascinating history of Lincoln?

Tickets can be purchased through our website, with the tour running monthly on a Saturday afternoon from 1pm. Drinks are included in the price of the tour, and our guides will direct to the best beer on offer in each pub.