York Brewery opened in May 1996 in York, England using the disused brewery equipment of Lions Original Brews from Burnley and was the first brewery within the city walls for 40 years. In 2007, it expanded so to increase its output by 50 per cent. In December 2008 York Brewery was taken over by Mitchell's Hotels and Inns of Lancaster which planned to expand its business and create jobs. In December 2018 Mitchells of Lancaster, and therefore York Brewery, went in to administration with the brewery and 4 pubs subsequently being purchased by Black Sheep Brewery. Brewing was moved to Black Sheep's Masham premises, although their stated intention was to find a new site in York. The brewery was located centrally within York on Toft Green, and offered tours of its facilities to the public. Whilst the frontage of the brewery on Toft Green is relatively modern the rear of the building, overlooking Micklegate, is significantly older and was the birthplace of Joseph Hansom the inventor of the Hansom Cab. The building was also where the furniture company Whitby Oliver was started in 1897; that company remains the landlord to this day and its logo can still be seen on the side of the top floor offices above Brigantes pub on Micklegate.
Core Beers
As of summer 2015 York Brewery produces five core beers that are available all year round.
Awards
In summer 2015, Otherside IPA was awarded a Gold award in the 'Premium Bitters & Pale Ales' category at the SIBA NE Region Beer Competition 2015 and a 2nd place in the Pale & Amber 4.5-5% category in the York CAMRA LocALE awards 2015. Both were awarded at the York Beer & Cider Festival 2015 on the Knavesmire in York. Minster Ale scooped a Bronze in the 'Bottled Gold Beers' category at the SIBA NE Region Beer Competition 2014. In 2013, York Blonde took home a 1st place in the 'Beers under 4%' category in the York CAMRA LocALE awards. The brewery's 'Centurion's Ghost Ale' was named champion in the Brewing Industry International Awards 2002 and won the 'Best Strong Bitter' Gold Medal at the Great British Beer Festival in 2006 and 2007. Its beer, 'Guzzler' won the gold medal in the bitter category of the Small Independent Brewers AssociationNorth Beer Competition in January 2006 and the gold medal in the bitter category of the North Beer Competition, held by the Society of Independent Brewers, in January 2007. 'Yorkshire Terrier' won the bronze medal in the Champion Beer of Britain competition held at the Great British Beer Festival in 2000, and the silver medal in the Society of Independent Brewers North Beer competition in February 2003.
As well as producing ales, the brewery also runs three pubs within York, namely The Three-Legged Mare, The Last Drop Inn and The Yorkshire Terrier Inn, and one, Mr. Foley's Cask Ale House, in Leeds. Its beers are however available in many other pubs throughout York and the wider Yorkshire area.
