What Kirkstall Brewery does

Kirkstall Brewery is a Leeds-based craft brewery founded in 2011, operating as the modern continuation of the Kirkstall Brewery Company (1833-1983) and the brewing legacy of the Cistercian monks of Kirkstall Abbey (1152). The company produces over 40 beer varieties spanning session IPAs (Virtuous, Judicious), lagers, pale ales, porters, and a distinctive Revival Series of Prize Ales drawing from historical Kirkstall recipes dating to the 1880s. Production is anchored at 100 Kirkstall Road on a five-vessel 50HL brewhouse built by SSV, with an original 8bbl brewhouse retained for limited-edition and special releases.

The business operates a vertically integrated model across four revenue streams: direct-to-consumer sales via the kirkstall.shop e-commerce storefront, an owned pub estate of 7+ venues across Leeds and West Yorkshire (Taproom & Kitchen, Kirkstall Bridge Inn, Cardigan Arms, The Tetley, The Three Swords, Black Horse, Station Hop, The Narrow Boat, The Sparrow), wholesale distribution to the hospitality trade managed through the SELLAR platform, and exclusive northern distribution of Harvey's Brewery beers. Customers include individual craft beer consumers, pubs, bars, and restaurants; segmentation is horizontal with both consumer and trade accounts. The acquisition of Leeds Brewery brands (Dec 2022), North Brewing (Jan 2024), and the lease of The Tetley (Mar 2024), combined with new group leadership appointed in July 2025, indicate an active consolidation strategy within the Yorkshire craft beer market.

Name

Kirkstall Brewery

Legal name

Kirkstall Brewery

Website

https://kirkstallbrewery.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Kirkstall Brewery is a Leeds-based craft brewery founded in 2011 that produces 40+ beer varieties including a Revival Series of historical Prize Ales, and operates a vertically integrated business spanning an owned pub estate of 7+ venues, e-commerce, wholesale distribution, and exclusive northern distribution of Harvey's Brewery beers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Beer Brewing

NAICS

Breweries (31212)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Beer Brewing & Craft Brewing (AFAFAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Regional & National Breweries (THAFALAD), Producer-Owned Retail & Bottle Shops (On-site) (THAFALAL)

Keywords

• Craft beer brewing
• Brewery operations
• Craft beer retail
• Pub hospitality
• Beer wholesale distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Leeds

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Beer Sales (Direct to Consumer): Direct retail sales of beer to consumers through e-commerce (cans, bottles, mini-casks) and merchandise via kirkstall.shop. Also direct sales through own pub estate.
2. Pub Operations: Revenue from owned and operated pubs including Taproom & Kitchen, Kirkstall Bridge Inn, Cardigan Arms, The Sparrow, The Three Swords, The Tetley, and Station Hop.
3. Trade/Wholesale: Wholesale distribution to partner pubs, bars, and restaurants. Trading on SELLAR platform for wholesale customers.
4. Distribution Partnership: Exclusive northern distribution partnership for Harvey's Brewery beers, generating revenue from distribution markups.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Kirkstall Brewery produces and sells a wide range of craft beers (core range, Revival Series Prize Ales drawn from 1880s-1920s Kirkstall recipes, and collaboration brews) in cask, keg, and can formats. It operates an owned pub estate across Leeds and West Yorkshire including the Taproom & Kitchen and The Tetley, and runs a direct-to-consumer online shop alongside a B2B trade/wholesale distribution business (including exclusive northern distribution of Harvey's Brewery).

Product overview

Kirkstall Brewery is a craft beer brewery founded in 2011, continuing the brewing legacy of Cistercian monks of Kirkstall Abbey and the Kirkstall Brewery Company (1833-1983). The company operates as both a brewery producing a diverse portfolio of beers and a pub operator with multiple venues across Leeds and West Yorkshire. Beer products span core favorites (Virtuous Session IPA, Kirkstall Pale Ale, Spokane West Coast IPA, Pilsner, Providence NE Pale, Three Swords) available in cask, keg, and can formats; seasonal/rotational offerings (Jasper, Judicious, Flamango); Revival Series of Prize Ales drawing on historical 1880s-1920s Kirkstall recipes (Bitter, Extra Bitter, Mild L, Mild X, Mild XXX, Special Mild, Special Pale, No. 1 Pale Ale, No. 5 Extra Strong, Light Dinner Ale, Nectar Ale); and special collaboration beers (Abbey Ale, AK IPA, Burton Pale Ale, Stingo, Ripley's Reserve, Kirkstall Brigid, Extra Stout, Dexter, Prize Milk Stout, Unity Ale, Biscuit Brown, Extra Biscuit Brown). The company owns and operates multiple pubs including the Kirkstall Brewery Taproom & Kitchen, Kirkstall Bridge Inn, Cardigan Arms, The Tetley, The Three Swords, Black Horse, The Sparrow, Station Hop, and The Narrow Boat, plus partner pubs. Retail operations include an online shop for beer and merchandise.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Virtuous Flagship gluten-free and vegan-friendly Session IPA at 4.5% ABV, brewed with grapefruit, lemon, lime, tropical fruit and pine hop notes. Sold in cask, keg, and cans for on-trade and off-trade consumers.
• Virtuous Grapefruit Citrus session IPA variant of Virtuous, zesty, clean, and extraordinarily refreshing; gluten-free and vegan-friendly.
• Virtuous Low Alcohol 0.5% ABV low-alcohol version of the flagship Virtuous, featuring tropical fruit, pine, and citrus from Citra, Mosaic, and Simcoe hops.
• Kirkstall Pale Ale Golden session pale ale ('Hoppy Yorkshire Pale') with fresh malt and hop aroma and a satisfyingly bitter finish.
• Providence Vegan session New England pale ale with Citra, Amarillo and Ekaunot cryo hops, featuring orange, pink grapefruit, sweet citrus, freshly cut grass, and pine.
• Spokane West Coast IPA at 6.0% ABV with grapefruit zest, pine, and mandarin notes and a crisp dry finish typical of lead brewer Will Inman's style.
• Pilsner Vegan-friendly unfiltered lager at 4.0% ABV, clean and crisp, hopped with Loral and Hersbrucker for lemon zest and light floral notes.
• Jasper Rotational hazy unfined unfiltered session IPA at 4.3% ABV with soft mouthfeel and tropical fruit flavours.
• Judicious Juicy pale ale at 4.8% ABV, hazy, packed with pink grapefruit, mango, pineapple, lychee, passion fruit, and peach flavours on a bed of coconut.
• Flamango Session-strength tropical pale ale at 3.4% ABV featuring Citra and Talus hops boosted by juicy mango flavour.
• Dissolution Classic India Pale Ale brewed in memory of the dissolution of Kirkstall Abbey by Henry VIII in 1539, with a resolute hoppy kick and lasting citrus finish.
• Three Swords Extra Pale Ale named after the coat of arms of the Cistercian monks of Kirkstall Abbey, using three American hop varieties for crisp, aromatic pale ale with clean citrus-fruit flavours.
• Black Band Full bodied yet beautifully smooth dark porter at 5.5% ABV, perfectly balanced.
• Bitter (Revival Series) Amber malt-centered Revival Series bitter with East Kent Goldings adding forest fruits alongside thirst-quenching bitterness.
• Extra Bitter (Revival Series) 4.4% Revival Series beer with fuller body, pronounced caramel notes, and hedgerow fruit flavours, using the base Bitter recipe with a larger malt structure.
• Mild L (Revival Series) First in the Revival Series of Prize Ales, based on an 1885 Kirkstall Brewery Co recipe. Amber 5% Mild, rich yet easy-drinking with chewy body, light peppery hop character and fruity finish.
• Mild X (Revival Series) 5.2% Revival Series beer based on 1885 Kirkstall recipe with Pale Malt, Roast Barley and Caramel; sweet, nutty and biscuity with lightly floral hop notes.
• Special Mild (Revival Series) 3.5% Dark Mild inspired by a 1920s Kirkstall bottle label, with gentle warming fruitcake flavours and nutty finish.
• Extra Special Mild (Revival Series) Heftier sibling to Special Mild with notes of chocolate, toffee and plum; chewy date-like sweetness offset by a gentle clean hoppy finish.
• Special Pale (Revival Series) Revival Series pale ale originally brewed by Kirkstall Brewery Co in the 1920s, released to celebrate The Great Exhibition of Prize Ales.
• No. 1 Pale Ale (Revival Series) 4.2% classic English Pale Ale inspired by late 1920s Kirkstall Brewery Co range, using Bullion hops for Old and New World hop flavours.
• No. 5 Extra Strong (Revival Series) 5.8% Strong Pale Ale inspired by late 1920s Kirkstall Brewery Co range, with complex malt flavours of caramel, brioche and hazelnut.
• Mild XXX (Revival Series) 6.5% strong dark mild inspired by an authentic 1880s Kirkstall recipe; sumptuous fruitcake powerhouse with coffee and chocolate notes.
• Nectar Ale (Revival Series) Honey Amber Ale inspired by Nectar Ale brewed by Kirkstall in the 1920s and 1930s; fragrant and moreish with honey boosting nutty biscuity character.
• Light Dinner Ale (Revival Series) 3.3% thirst-quenching malt-led table beer hopped with Bramling Cross, in a style popularised in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
• Stingo 8.4% Revival Series barrel-aged strong Yorkshire-style beer, brewed with To Øl collaboration, aged six months in Bourbon barrels with orange peel and caramel flavours.
• Burton Pale Ale Beer inspired by first strong pale beers brewed in Burton for export to India; sturdy in strength, heavily hopped, dry and full-bodied.
• AK IPA Based on 1885 Kirkstall recipe where 'AK' denoted a pale bitter suitable for keeping; uses West Yorkshire Ale yeast with traditional English hop varieties.
• Abbey Ale Prize Ale brewed for Leeds International Beer Festival 2022 at Kirkstall Abbey, inspired by the original Kirkstall Brewery Co (1833-1983) Abbey Ale with cues from Belgian Abbey-style beers.
• Ripley's Reserve 5.9% Tudor Ale named for John Ripley, the final Abbot of Kirkstall who surrendered the Abbey to the Crown in 1539; imagines what Cistercian monks could have brewed.
• Kirkstall Brigid Irish Dry Stout brewed to celebrate International Women's Day, named for St Brigid (known for turning water into beer); full-flavoured and well-balanced cask stout.
• Extra Stout Collaboration with The Five Points Brewing Co; historically-inspired Extra Stout from the 1930s using Challenger hops with biscuity cinder toffee malt character.
• Prize Milk Stout Collaboration with Thornbridge recreating a Milk Stout recipe brewed at Kirkstall in the 1950s; silky smooth and sessionable stout brewed with lactose.
• Unity Ale Classic English Pale Ale inspired by Hammond's Unity Ale, brewed with floor-malted heritage Chevallier malt and dry-hopped with Challenger; released as Leeds Brewery special for The Great Exhibition of Prize Ales 2024.
• Dexter Milk Stout Series collaboration with Rabbit Hole Coffee; tiramisu-flavoured beer with Colombian coffee beans lending pecan pie, dark chocolate and all-spice notes.
• Biscuit Brown Brown Ale using Brown Malt, Amber Malt and oats baked in the taproom pizza oven, with richly-layered malt flavours and a dry biscuity finish.
• Extra Biscuit Brown Darker, stronger, biscuitier variant of Biscuit Brown using Brown Malt, Amber Malt and Toasted Oats; fuller-bodied with dark chocolate and bonfire toffee notes.
• Veltins German Pilsner brewed by Brauerei Veltins to German Purity Law 1516, voted 'World's Best Pilsner' in the 2007 World Beer Awards; distributed in the UK by Kirkstall via Vertical Drinks.
• Kirkstall Brewery Taproom & Kitchen Flagship taproom and kitchen at 100 Kirkstall Road, Leeds, serving as a showcase for Kirkstall's beers alongside modern pub fare and pizza.
• Kirkstall Bridge Inn Community-focused pub on the edge of the River Aire in Kirkstall, Leeds, showcasing Kirkstall beers alongside other craft options, with a renowned menu of pub classics and a waterside beer garden.
• Cardigan Arms Grade II-listed pub in Burley, Leeds, operated by Kirkstall Brewery.
• The Tetley Historic 1931 Art Deco former Tetley's Brewery headquarters in Leeds, taken on by Kirkstall in 2024 and reopened as a hub for great beer from Leeds and a landmark of Yorkshire beer culture.
• The Three Swords Pub in Horsforth, Leeds, named after the coat of arms of the Cistercian monks of Kirkstall Abbey, serving Kirkstall beers with a food offering.
• Black Horse (Otley) Traditional historic pub in Otley serving quality local craft ales and food.
• The Sparrow (Bradford) Real ales and craft beers bar in Bradford with TV sports, stripped floors, and a simple glass-fronted bar.
• Station Hop (Morley) Pub location in Morley operated by Kirkstall Brewery.
• The Narrow Boat (Skipton) Pub location in Skipton operated by Kirkstall Brewery.
• Brewery Tours Guided tours of the brewery facility led by expert Scott, including tasting of three seasonal beers; bookable through DesignMyNight.
• Online Shop (kirkstall.shop) E-commerce platform selling Kirkstall beer in cans, bottles, and home cask/keg mini-casks, plus merchandise, direct to consumers nationwide.
• Trade/Wholesale Supply B2B wholesale supply of Kirkstall beer to pubs, bars, and restaurants, managed through the SELLAR platform for live stock availability and ordering.
• Harvey's Brewery Northern Distribution Exclusive northern distribution of Harvey's Brewery beers (including Sussex Best) across the North of England; Kirkstall distributes Sussex Best and other Harvey's beers to trade customers.
• Sharpe's Rifleman's Pale Ale Collaboration beer with Bernard Cornwell for the official Sharpe beer; 4.7% historic 'Pale Ale prepared for India and Export' inspired by the Richard Sharpe novels, available in 440ml cans and 9g cask for a limited time.
• Tasty Pebble West Coast IPA West Coast IPA featuring Lemondrop and El Dorado hops, 7.4% ABV, 90 IBU, showcasing bold citrus and pine-sap bitterness.

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Harvey's BrewerycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 4 August 2025Kirkstall Brewery is the exclusive northern distributor for Harvey's Brewery. Distribution began with Harvey's Sussex Best (award-winning bitter) in 9g cask. Harvey's is a Lewes-based brewer known for Sussex Best, using local hops, water filtered through Sussex Downs, and 60-year-old yeast strain.
• Vastint UKcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 March 2024Partnership to operate The Tetley building at Aire Park. Kirkstall taking on lease of former Tetley's Brewery headquarters (Art Deco building from 1931). Plan to make it a hub for great beer from Leeds and a landmark of Yorkshire beer culture.
• North Brewing CocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 January 2024Steve Holt (Kirkstall Founder) purchased North Brewing. North continues as independent brewery with existing management. Transaction includes Springwell Brewery and Taproom, North Taproom sites in Leeds and Manchester. Secured 78 jobs. Does not include Birmingham taproom.
• Leeds BrewerycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 December 2022Acquisition of Leeds Brewery brands. Leeds Pale and other beers from their portfolio will be brewed at Kirkstall Brewery. Maintaining relationships with Leeds Brewery customers.
• Burley RUFCminorOthers · 16 December 2022Gold sponsorship for 2022-23 season and beyond. Three-year deal supporting Burley RUFC training programmes, player development, and outreach. Club located beside Kirkstall Abbey.
• Old King's Arms (Horsforth)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 13 June 2022Partnership with independent operators Lyndsey and Aidan allowing them to serve Kirkstall beers under bespoke tenancy agreement with Greene King. At least 3 cask lines and 2 keg lines devoted to Kirkstall. Virtuous served continuously. Independent pub operators renting from Greene King.
• ThornbridgeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration recreating a Milk Stout recipe brewed at Kirkstall in 1950s. Prize Milk Stout collaboration - silky smooth and sessionable stout brewed with lactose.
• The Five Points Brewing CominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on historically-inspired Extra Stout taking cues from 1930s. Using Challenger hops to balance biscuity, cinder toffee malt character.
• To ØlminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational collaboration on Stingo Imperial Bitter - base recipe from former Kirkstall brewer Tom. Imperial Bitter using Golden Promise, Amber Malt, Crystal Malt and Brewer's Invert Sugar No. 2, barrel aged in Bourbon barrels for 6 months.
• Greene KingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBespoke tenancy agreement granted to allow Old King's Arms partnership with Kirkstall. Unusual arrangement allowing independent operators to serve Kirkstall beers alongside Greene King tenancy.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Wadworth Brewery: Regional Wiltshire family brewer with owned pub estate and traditional cask ale range; comparable vertically integrated regional brewery + pub model with a similar heritage-led brand proposition.
• Camden Town Brewery: Larger London craft brewer owned by AB InBev, operating its own brewpub and extensive nationwide can distribution; comparable product format (core range + specials) but at meaningfully greater scale and reach.
• Greene King: Large UK regional brewer and pub operator; relevant as Kirkstall's partner through bespoke tenancy arrangements and as a benchmark for vertically integrated brewery-pub business models in the UK.
• BrewDog: Largest UK craft brewer with a multi-site brewery footprint, large owned-bar estate, and nationwide distribution; competes for the same on-trade shelf space and consumer mindshare as Kirkstall.

Direct peers

• Harvey's Brewery: Historic Sussex regional brewer whose Sussex Best and other cask beers Kirkstall distributes exclusively across the North of England; directly comparable traditional British ale portfolio and on-trade orientation.
• Thornbridge: Peak District/Bakewell craft brewery of similar scale with an extensive core and seasonal range, multiple collaboration brews, and on-trade/wholesale distribution; collaboration partner on Prize Milk Stout.
• North Brewing Co: Leeds-based craft brewer acquired by Kirkstall's founder in Jan 2024; operates Springwell Brewery and taprooms in Leeds and Manchester with a comparable core/seasonal IPA and pale ale range, making it the closest product, geography, and channel peer.
• The Five Points Brewing Co: East London craft brewer of comparable size with a strong pub taproom presence and historic-recipe projects; co-brewed Kirkstall's Extra Stout and competes for similar on-trade craft accounts.

Regional players

• Veltins (Brauerei C. & A. Veltins): German pilsner brewer whose Veltins Pilsner is distributed in the UK via Kirkstall/Vertical Drinks; relevant comparable for premium imported lager positioning rather than direct UK craft competition.
• Ilkley Brewery: Yorkshire-based regional craft brewer competing in the same Leeds/West Yorkshire on-trade and independent pub channel, with comparable cask and keg range.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kirkstallbrew
• Facebookfacebook.com/kirkstallbrewery
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kirkstall-brewery

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kirkstall Brewery