When it comes to craft beer in Leeds, you can’t go wrong with these 10.
Leeds city centre is crammed full of quality craft beer bars. Northern Monk Refectory and Bundobust, The Head of Steam and The Brunswick – we’ve got them coming out of our ears, but if you had to narrow it down to just 10, which would you choose? We’ve put together our list by visiting each and every one and they’re absolute blinders, but it might not have everywhere you’d expect – when you’re sticking to just 10, you have to be ruthless.
Northern Monk Refectory
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Northern Monk are one of the most popular craft breweries in the UK, so their Refectory tap room is an obvious bar to visit when you’re on a craft beer hunt in Leeds. Their beers are made mere metres away and taste divine, but that’s not the only reason they made the list.
These guys know beer as well as anyone, so you can be sure every pour is a stone cold classic or a limited edition you need to try before it runs out. There are 16 keg lines, four cask pulls and plenty of fridges, so there’s always something new and exciting to try – we love A Little Faith.
Northern Monk Refectory, The Old Flax Store, Marshalls Mills, Marshall Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS11 9YJ.
Tapped Leeds
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Huge copper tanks, endless taps and packed fridges – one glance at Tapped Leeds and you know you’re in craft beer heaven. This is an American-style brew pub, where they make their own Mittle Pils and Dea Latis Pale right in front of you and send it to the taps.
There are up to 13 cask and 14 keg beers on offer any one time, changing on a regular basis. One visit it could be To Øl, the next Kirkstall, the third Anarchy Brew Co. It doesn’t stop at the taps, though – they have over 100 bottles and cans waiting in the fridges if you fancy mixing it up as we often do.
Tapped Leeds, 51 Boar Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5EL.
North Bar
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North Bar is a Leeds institution. It’s been around for nearly 30 years and was one of the first craft beer bars in the country, let alone the city. It’s been a must-visit for beer lovers ever since – they have over 150 beers to choose from at any one time!
Keg, cask or bottle, they’re all catered for and offer you the chance to explore. You can keep it close to home with their own brewery’s tipples, made just up the road, or travel to far-flung shores with brews from America, Japan and Australia. Don’t know where to start? Just ask their experts, but we love a Seasons Reverse bitter.
North Bar, 24 New Briggate, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6NU.
The Brunswick
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Whether you want your tipple in a bottle, canned or on tap, The Brunswick should be at the top of your list of craft beer bars to try in Leeds. A refreshing way out of the commotion of the city centre, their beer selection changes on the regular so no two visits are ever the same. One day you could be supping a pint of Kirkstall’s finest, the next Pressure Drop’s first-rate pale ales.
If you’re looking to wet the whistle with a new tipple, grab your friends and try their sharer selection, made up of lambics like Mikkeller’s Geuze Boon, sours such as Stillwater’s Gone Gone Wild and more.
The Brunswick, 82 North Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7PN.
Bundobust
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Bundobust may offer up some of the finest Indian street food in Leeds, but did you know they also double up as a craft beer hall? Brewed over in Manchester at their very own Bundobust Brewery, their beer is available exclusively on tap in their restaurants, and you can expect a rotating selection of brews, guest beers and collaborations every time you visit.
Their Dhania Pilsner Coriander Lager is a classic, but their Mango Lassi Pale Ale is our favourite. Brewed in collaboration with Northern Monk, it’s sweet, smooth and light with a dreamy, creamy mango flavour.
Bundobust, 6 Mill Hill, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5DQ.
The Head of Steam
With a trio of locations across the city centre and Headingley, The Head of Steam have firmly established themselves as one of the best craft beer bars in Leeds. They stock Belgian blondes, Mexican lagers, British IPAs and so much more, so you’ll be pressed to find more variety anywhere else.
Keep it fruity with a Pass Time sour by Left Handed Giant or indulge in a bold and chocolatey Naughty & Nice stout from Vocation Brewery. What’s more, they’re one of the only bars in the city centre that stock such a wide range of Trappist beers, brewed by monks within the walls of Benedictine abbeys.
The Head of Steam, 6 Park Row, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5QL, 12 Mill Hill, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5DQ & 11 North Lane, Headingley, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS6 3HG.
Wapentake
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Wapentake are all about showcasing the finest food and drink from God’s Own County, but especially great Yorkshire beers. On cask and keg, you’ll find eight constantly rotating local lines, shining a light on breweries like Roosters and North Riding – but it’s Kirkstall Brewery that holds the fort as their house pale ale.
Look to the fridges and you’ll find the shelves are completely dedicated to an array of Yorkshire breweries. If you’re peckish, their bar snacks are the stuff of legends, so do as we did and tuck into one of their crisp butties, or go all out with their famous Yorkshire pudding burger.
Wapentake, 92 Kirkgate, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7DJ.
Whitelock’s Ale House
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This historic Leeds drinking hole has been serving up the pints since 1715, making it the city’s oldest public house. It hasn’t lost any of its charm, with fantastic interiors, a courtyard space and characterful pressed-tin bar. That’s where you’ll find a wide selection of craft beers, real ales and speciality ciders.
They stock up from Yorkshire breweries, including names like Northern Monk, Ilkley and North Brew Co, among others – it’s no surprise they’re a frequent feature in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide. Pair your pint with some comforting pub grub – we’re big fans of their beer-battered fish finger sarnie – and you’re onto a winner.
Whitelock’s Ale House, Turk’s Head Yard, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6HB.
Brownhill & Co
From the same people behind Little Leeds Beerhouse, Brownhill & Co is a specialist, family-owned craft beer bar in the heart of Leeds. You’ll find 10 rotating keg taps, taking you from pilsners to pale ales and stouts, as well as a huge selection of bottles and cans from all across the world.
They draw huge inspiration from their love of European classics from Germany and Belgium. Say ‘Prost’ with a pint of Rothaus’ Tannenzäpfle or keep it Northern with a Sonoma on cask from Manchester’s Track. Whatever you opt for, you can enjoy it in a cosy, welcoming bar, and even grab a few brews to takeaway.
Brownhill & Co, 30 Central Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6DE.
The Brew Society
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They might start your day with North Star single-origin coffee, but The Brew Society are happy to end it by showing why they’re craft beer connoisseurs. There are 13 different beer lines to take your pick from – it could be Kirkstall Brewery’s Drop Hammer imperial stout, Arbor Mosaic’s gluten free pale ale or Vault City’s Paradise Punch sour.
Whatever you choose, a trip to Brew Society will be an education in all things hop. Keg and cask are accounted for, but there’s even more in the fridges, full of bottles and cans from a veritable who’s who of UK breweries.
The Brew Society, 26 Aire Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 4HT.
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