Thornbridge Brewery, the Peak District brewer of Jaipur, saves a piece of history

Few breweries have made such an impression in such a short time as Thornbridge. Its first beers were brewed in 2005 on a 10-barrel kit in the grounds of Thornbridge Hall, near Great Longstone in the Derbyshire Dales, and today it is best known for Jaipur, its celebrated IPA.

The setting is a story in itself. Thornbridge Hall is a Grade II listed country house whose history stretches back centuries. George Marples extended it to nearly its present form in 1896, and since 2002 it has been owned by Jim and Emma Harrison, who run it as their home and as an events venue. The original brewery was based in a converted workshop within the grounds.

Growth came quickly. In 2009 a 30-barrel brewery opened in a former car sales showroom in Bakewell, and by 2015 Thornbridge was running 12 pubs and exporting to 33 countries. Jim Harrison and Simon Webster are named as its key people.

The awards cabinet is impressive. Thornbridge won World Beer Awards gold medals in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015, and World Beer Cup silver medals in 2010 and 2014 and bronze in 2012. Jaipur was named one of the Guild of Fine Food's Top 50 food and drink products in 2012, and the brewery was named Best Drinks Producer in the BBC Radio 4 Food and Farming Awards two years later.

Its core cask range includes Brother Rabbit, Jaipur, Kipling, Lord Marples and Wild Swan, while keg and bottled favourites include AM.PM, Chiron, Colorado Red, Halcyon and Wild Raven.

In 2024 Thornbridge did something special for British brewing heritage. The Burton Union, a fermentation system of linked wooden casks invented in the 1830s, had been used for Marston's Pedigree until February 2024, when the last original sets were due to close. With support from Brooklyn Brewery, Thornbridge worked with Carlsberg Marston's to save a set of six 150-gallon barrels, and recommissioned the only remaining working Burton Union brewing set using donated equipment.

Thornbridge also supports outdoor culture in the region, appearing among the partners of the Sheffield Adventure Film Festival.

Beers, pubs and news are on the Thornbridge Brewery website.