Tour York Brewery and Taste Beer Brewed Within the Ancient City Walls
The smell of hops will lead you to this little brewery close to Micklegate which is now a popular York tourist attraction.
The last tour of the day is at 5pm. After a day spent seeing the sights of York, it felt likethe perfect time for a bit of beer education followed by a relaxed drink in the brewery tap.
If you fancy a more extensive beer tasting experience while visiting York, book onto the York Breweries Bus Tour. It will take you to three of the cities top breweries (including York Brewery).
Brewing in York
When York Brewery opened its doors in 1996, it had been over 40 years since ales had been traditionally brewed within York’s ancient city walls.
The brewery site near Micklegate dates back to the late 16th century. Interestingly, it was the birthplace of Joseph Hansom, the inventor of the Hansom Cab (you can see one on display in the York’s Castle Museum).
Take a Tour of York Brewery
Take the York brewery tour and you’ll see that the brewery houses a 20-barrel brew plant. Although the site is pretty compact, it somehow manages to squeeze in six traditional open top fermenters and 5 conditioning tanks.
There’s a handy gallery above the brew house and a viewing panel into the fermenting room so visitors on the guided brewery tour can see the brewing process in action and experience all the sounds and smells along the way.
The tour doesn’t go into huge depth but it does give you a very useful introduction and help beginners understand how beer is made.
Taste Centurion’s Ghost
The tour ends in the brewery tap room bar where you’re invited to taste their bestsellers such as Guzzler (mid weight, easy drinking), Centurion’s Ghost Ale (dark and mild), and the cleverly named York Minster and Yorkshire Terrier.
If you want to carry on drinking afterwards, you can choose from one of their three pubs. The Last Drop Inn and The Three-Legged Mare are both in the city. The brewery also owns Mr Foley’s Tap House in Leeds.
- Did you know that “hop asparagus,” the tender young shoots of hops can be steamed or sauteed?
Mr Hendricks says, “You can take me to all of their pubs in York except for Mr Foley’s Cask Ale House. I’m even welcome in the Tap Room”.
How to Find York Brewery
York Brewery, 12 Toft Green, York YO1 6JT
York Brewery
The Foodie Travel Guide
Sally is the founder and editor of The Foodie Travel Guide. She travels around the UK and beyond in search of the best foodie days out, tasting experiences and delicious places to stay. She loves a glass of English sparkling wine, afternoon tea with friends and escaping London for gastronomic adventures.
York Breweries Bus Tour
- Round-trip minibus transportation is provided for your convenience
- Go behind-the-scenes at three of York’s popular breweries
- Tour includes York Brewery
- Learn all about how beer is made, and enjoy numerous tastings
- Meet and converse with pro brewers
York Brewery Tour - Save Money With The York Pass
- Free entry to 30 top attractions in historic York
- Hop-on, hop-off tour
- Beat the queues
- Includes York’Brewery
- Highlights include York Minster, Castle Howard, Jorvik Centre and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway
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