EMPIRE BREWING
The brewery
Empire Brewing is situated in the boiler house of a Slaithwaite mill. Real ale aficionado Russ Beverley started brewing in the garage of the pub he managed for Punch Taverns and when Punch objected and threatened not to renew his lease, he gave up the pub and Empire Brewing was born. The brewery's location on the towpath of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal makes it popular with passers-by as well as barges, who can moor up outside and pick up a bottle or two to help them on the voyage ahead. There is some merchandise available and short tours are possible by prior arrangement.
Empire Brewing is situated in the boiler house of a Slaithwaite mill. Real ale aficionado Russ Beverley started brewing in the garage of the pub he managed for Punch Taverns and when Punch objected and threatened not to renew his lease, he gave up the pub and Empire Brewing was born. The brewery's location on the towpath of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal makes it popular with passers-by as well as barges, who can moor up outside and pick up a bottle or two to help them on the voyage ahead. There is some merchandise available and short tours are possible by prior arrangement.
Russ tinkering with the kit.
What beers are here?
Empire's range of beers includes Moonraker's Mild - named after the infamous moonrakers of local legend, the hoppy Golden Warrior (3.8%) and Imperium (5.1%). Additional beers are brewed to mark special events or to make social comment (like Parliamentary Expenses, the pumpclip of which showed pigs around a trough) and as you'd expect from a brewery called Empire, many beers have patriotic names.
Where to try
The unofficial brewery tap is The Commercial in Slaithwaite, just a short stroll down the towpath. Commerciale is always available as is Moonraker's Mild. Empire also brews the house beers at Brambles in Holmfirth and is regularly to be found at Dirty Dicks in Halifax and Percy Vear's in Keighley. Bottled ales are available direct from the brewery.
Did you know?
The pump clip for Empire's Strikes Back (4%) shows a picture of Punch with a knife in his back - this beer was not named for Star Wars fans as many imagine...
A drawing of Bonzo, the brewery's resident dog, can be found on Empire's beer mats, together with the Latin motto 'usque ad mortem bibendum' which loosely translates as 'drink until you drop'!
Empire's range of beers includes Moonraker's Mild - named after the infamous moonrakers of local legend, the hoppy Golden Warrior (3.8%) and Imperium (5.1%). Additional beers are brewed to mark special events or to make social comment (like Parliamentary Expenses, the pumpclip of which showed pigs around a trough) and as you'd expect from a brewery called Empire, many beers have patriotic names.
Where to try
The unofficial brewery tap is The Commercial in Slaithwaite, just a short stroll down the towpath. Commerciale is always available as is Moonraker's Mild. Empire also brews the house beers at Brambles in Holmfirth and is regularly to be found at Dirty Dicks in Halifax and Percy Vear's in Keighley. Bottled ales are available direct from the brewery.
Did you know?
The pump clip for Empire's Strikes Back (4%) shows a picture of Punch with a knife in his back - this beer was not named for Star Wars fans as many imagine...
A drawing of Bonzo, the brewery's resident dog, can be found on Empire's beer mats, together with the Latin motto 'usque ad mortem bibendum' which loosely translates as 'drink until you drop'!
Empire Brewing is a one man and his dog operation. Bonzo guards the filing cabinet...
Contact
Empire Brewing
Unit 33, The Old Boiler House
Upper Mills, Canalside
Slaithwaite, HD7 5AS
01484 847343
Website coming soon....
Empire Brewing
Unit 33, The Old Boiler House
Upper Mills, Canalside
Slaithwaite, HD7 5AS
01484 847343
Website coming soon....