Features

The Maxim Brewery in Houghton le Spring has risen from the ashes of tVaux, a large Sunderland brewery asset stripped and closed in the late 1990s. Now Mark Anderson (pictured) and his team have brought back Double Maxim, a legendary strong brown ale, and other Vaux and Wards beers to the region

Added: Friday, March 21st 2014

De Rooden Hoed -- the Red Hat -- dates from the 18th century and is a former coaching inn alongside Antwerp cathedral. Today it offers fine dining, with each course carefully and meticulously matched by a great Belgian beer, including the local De Koninck ale that's celebrated in style on the restaurant wall

Added: Sunday, March 16th 2014

The docks in the great Belgian city of Antwerp closed in the 1960s but now a warehouse that once stored coffee and tobacco is home to 't Pakhuis brewery and restaurant. Hans Bombeke (left), a tireless lecturer and beer taster in Antwerp, brews there with regular brewer Hans Jensen (centre) and manager Kristof Van Den Ouweland

Added: Monday, March 10th 2014

Family-owned McMullen's brewery in Hertford has its eyes on London. It has added to its existing pubs in the capital with four more, including the Old Bank of England next to the Law Courts (pictured). The brewery also has outlets in Essex, Berkshire and Hampshire. Fergus McMullen says food is increasingly important to his pubs but sales of his cask beers, including the historic AK, are doing well

Added: Saturday, March 8th 2014

Jaclyn and Stuart Bateman are the fourth generation to run the family brewery in Wainfleet, Lincolnshire, and Stuart says he's fed up with being told he's not a 'craft brewer' because it's not a new company. Batemans has responded defiantly by rebranding its ales as craft beers

Added: Monday, March 3rd 2014

Robinson's brewery in Stockport is a giant of the North-west, with more than 300 pubs and a brand-new brewhouse built at the cost of £6 million. As well as its regular cask ales, Robinsons has won world-wide acclaim for its Trooper beer, an unlikely collaboration with heavy metal rock group Iron Maiden

Added: Saturday, February 8th 2014

Marston's top brewer Richard Westwood (pictured) is planning to turn several of the group's beers into bottle-conditioned versions thanks to the brewery's new bottling plant in Burton-on-Trent. And Old Empire IPA is high on the agenda with Owd Rodger a possible contender

Added: Thursday, February 6th 2014

A Guardian trip to Antwerp offers "dinner with wine". Visitors would be best advised to sample some of the great beers of Belgium in specialist bars and restaurants such as Bier Central

Added: Wednesday, February 5th 2014

Legendary brewer and pub owner David Bruce -- of Firkin and Slug & Lettuce fame -- is back in business as chairman of West Berkshire Brewery. He is pictured (far left) with brewer Will Twomey and founders Helen and Dave Maggs. There are plans for a new brewery site and expanded sales, with shares on offer to friends, family and supporters in the Thames Valley

Added: Thursday, January 23rd 2014

The Het Anker brewery dates from the 16th century when sisters in a beguinage brewed beer for the sick. In the 20th century, the owners abandoned Pils and returned to ale brewing and have achieved international success with the Gouden Carolus range. They have even added a version of the beer matured in single malt whisky casks from Scotland.

Added: Saturday, January 18th 2014