Hawkshead Brewery
Hawkshead Brewery is a 2002-founded Lake District craft brewery selling artisan ales, lagers, stouts, and limited-edition beers direct-to-consumer via Shopify, alongside third-party spirits and merchandise, with B2B trade distribution to UK pubs and retailers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersStaveley, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Hawkshead Brewery does
Hawkshead Brewery Limited is a UK-based craft brewery established in 2002, headquartered in the Lake District with operations centred on Flookburgh (LA11 7LS). It produces and sells a portfolio of artisan beers — including core ales, lagers, stouts and porters, sours and wheat beers, and limited-edition small-batch ales — using soft Lakeland water, Maris Otter malted barley, and whole cone hops, with a proprietary Scandinavian-style juniper-infusion technique used in its Hochberg Lager. The commercial model is dual-channel: direct-to-consumer sales through a Shopify storefront with free local delivery within a 10-mile radius of Flookburgh and on-site collection, plus trade/B2B distribution via the Sellar platform and enquiries routed through the Aber Falls Distillery contact channel. The online store also retails third-party spirits (Whitley Neill gins, Dead Man's Fingers rums) and branded merchandise (knitwear, bar tools, gift cards), making the storefront a small multi-category craft drinks and gifting marketplace.
The brewery serves two principal segments: individual craft beer enthusiasts and gift buyers purchasing for personal consumption, and on-trade/off-trade commercial customers (pubs, bars, retailers) stocking Hawkshead products. Marketing is conducted organically through X (Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram. The brewery has built reputational capital through recognised industry awards, including CAMRA Champion Beer of the North West 2017, multiple SIBA regional and national medals, and World Beer Awards recognition in 2021 and 2023. Headcount is in the 11-50 range and the business operates as a private UK company with no disclosed funding rounds, parent company, or institutional investors. The 2026 summer launch of Hochberg Lager and the tula fruit-infused range marks the most recent product extension.
Hawkshead Brewery firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hawkshead Brewery
- Legal name
- Hawkshead Brewery
- Website
- https://hawksheadbrewery.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Hawkshead Brewery is a 2002-founded Lake District craft brewery selling artisan ales, lagers, stouts, and limited-edition beers direct-to-consumer via Shopify, alongside third-party spirits and merchandise, with B2B trade distribution to UK pubs and retailers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hawkshead Brewery industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Craft Brewing
- NAICS
- Breweries (31212), Breweries (312120), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (44532), Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers (424810)
- SIC
- Malt Beverages (2082), Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Packaging & Production Breweries (Limited/No On-site Service) (THAFALAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Liquor Stores (Off-Premise Spirits Retail) (CRANABAA), Beer Retail (Bottle Shops & Beer Merchants) (CRANABAC)
Keywords
Where Hawkshead Brewery is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Staveley
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Hawkshead Brewery business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Beer Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales of craft beers including ales, lagers, stouts, porters, sours, wheat beers, and limited edition small batch beers through the company's e-commerce platform and potentially on-site sales.
- Spirits Distribution: Sale of third-party spirits including Whitley Neill gins and Dead Man's Fingers rums through the Hawkshead Brewery online store.
- Merchandise: Sale of branded merchandise including knitwear, bar tools, and gift cards.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Single unit prices for beer products |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Spirits pricing |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Merchandise items |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
Hawkshead Brewery product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hawkshead Brewery produces and sells craft beers including ales, lagers, stouts, porters, sours, wheat beers, and limited edition small-batch brews through its own e-commerce store with local delivery and collection options. The company also distributes third-party spirits (Whitley Neill gin, Dead Man's Fingers rum) and sells branded merchandise (knitwear, bar tools, gift cards) via the same online channel.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Hawkshead Craft Beers A range of craft beers including ales, lagers, stouts and porters, sours and wheat beers, and limited edition small-batch brews, sold in multi-pack cans and bottles. Brewed by trained brewers using soft Lakeland water, Maris Otter malted barley, and whole cone hops. Targeted at craft beer enthusiasts and trade customers.
- Hochberg Lager (5%) 4x440ml Cans A Scandinavian-style lager with juniper infusion inspired by traditional Nordic brewing, where juniper berries are steeped in the beer wash to create aromatic, resinous forest notes. Packaged as a 4x440ml can case at £6.00.
- Third-Party Spirits (Gin, Vodka, Rum, Whisky) Distribution of third-party spirits through the Hawkshead Brewery online store, including Whitley Neill gins (e.g., Blackberry Gin, 70cl at £20.00) and Dead Man's Fingers rums (Coconut, White, Spiced at £14.00-£18.00). Targeted at consumers seeking premium spirits alongside craft beer purchases.
- Hawkshead Branded Merchandise Branded merchandise including knitwear (beanies £10.00-£12.50), bar tools (e.g., Bar Blade £5.00), and e-gift cards (£10.00-£100.00). Targeted at craft beer enthusiasts and gift buyers.
Quantifiable outcome
- World Beer Awards 2023 Silver, multiple SIBA awards, CAMRA Champion Beer of the North West 2017
Companies that use Hawkshead Brewery
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Hawkshead Brewery technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Hawkshead Brewery partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- The Rum & Crab Shack (St. Ives, Cornwall)minorThe Rum & Crab Shack in St. Ives, Cornwall is the origin of Dead Man's Fingers rum brand. Hawkshead Brewery distributes this rum through their online store. The brand gained cult status among loyal followers and was created at the restaurant which serves fresh seafood with rum.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Hawkshead Brewery competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Marston's PLC: Large UK pub and brewing group producing cask ales and lagers distributed nationally through on-trade and wholesale; comparable as a broader incumbent in the UK brewing market competing for similar trade accounts.
- Adnams: Suffolk-based brewer and drinks producer with a portfolio spanning beers, spirits and merchandise plus a large DTC and hospitality estate; comparable as a broader UK incumbent overlapping with Hawkshead's beer-plus-spirits-plus-merchandise mix.
Direct peers
- Black Sheep Brewery: North Yorkshire family brewery producing traditional ales and modern craft beers across on-trade, off-trade and DTC; comparable UK regional craft peer of similar scale and heritage to Hawkshead.
- Thornbridge Brewery: Derbyshire-based award-winning craft brewery producing ales, lagers and barrel-aged specials for on-trade and DTC; comparable regional UK craft peer with overlapping award pedigree and style range.
- Cloudwater Brew Co. Manchester-based craft brewery focused on modern hop-forward ales, lagers and seasonal releases sold DTC and via trade; comparable regional UK craft peer competing for similar craft enthusiast customers.
- Beavertown Brewery: London craft brewery known for IPAs, lagers and seasonal limited releases distributed on-trade and via DTC; comparable UK craft peer with similar style breadth and brand-led positioning.
- Brakspear Brewing: Oxfordshire-based heritage brewery producing traditional and modern ales via on-trade and DTC channels; comparable UK craft peer of similar size operating across trade and direct-to-consumer routes.
- BrewDog: UK's largest craft brewery producing ales, lagers, IPAs and limited editions via DTC e-commerce and on-trade; directly comparable as a UK craft peer competing for the same on-premise and direct consumer occasions as Hawkshead.
- Wye Valley Brewery: Herefordshire family brewery producing premium cask and bottled ales for on-trade and off-trade; comparable regional UK craft peer of similar scale, family ownership profile and trade-led distribution.
- Camden Town Brewery: London-based craft brewery with a broad range of lagers and pale ales sold via DTC, on-trade and grocery; comparable UK craft peer operating a similar multi-channel model with regional identity.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Hawkshead Brewery social profiles
Digital presenceHawkshead Brewery financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hawkshead Brewery leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Hawkshead Brewery funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hawkshead Brewery M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Hawkshead Brewery
What does Hawkshead Brewery do?
Hawkshead Brewery produces and sells craft beers including ales, lagers, stouts, porters, sours, wheat beers, and limited edition small-batch brews through its own e-commerce store with local delivery and collection options. The company also distributes third-party spirits (Whitley Neill gin, Dead Man's Fingers rum) and sells branded merchandise (knitwear, bar tools, gift cards) via the same online channel.
Is Hawkshead Brewery a public or private company?
Hawkshead Brewery is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Hawkshead Brewery founded?
Hawkshead Brewery was founded in 2002. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Hawkshead Brewery based?
Hawkshead Brewery is headquartered in Staveley, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Hawkshead Brewery make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Beer Sales are the primary driver. The others are spirits Distribution and merchandise.
Who are Hawkshead Brewery's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Marston's PLC and Adnams. Direct peers are Black Sheep Brewery, Thornbridge Brewery, Cloudwater Brew Co., Beavertown Brewery, Brakspear Brewing, BrewDog, Wye Valley Brewery and Camden Town Brewery.
Does Hawkshead Brewery have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hawkshead Brewery.
What industry is Hawkshead Brewery in?
Hawkshead Brewery's product category is Craft Brewing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFALAB, Packaging & Production Breweries (Limited/No On-site Service), with a secondary code of CRANABAA, Liquor Stores (Off-Premise Spirits Retail). Its NAICS code is 31212 and its SIC code is 2082.