Top Tap Rooms at Cornwall's Micro Breweries

Drink hand-crafted beers at source in Cornwall’s new crop of micro-breweries. There’s nothing like sipping a small-batch Cornish ale that comes with zero beer miles, especially when it’s served in a trendy taproom where foodie pop-ups, live music and community events are all part of the lovingly-made beer experience. 

Here are some top taprooms where you can quench your thirst.

Firebrand Brewing Co. Taproom, Launceston

Born from a passion for beer made from all-natural ingredients, Firebrand Brewing Co. started out in a converted milking parlour on the edge of Bodmin Moor before moving into the heart of the old Cornish capital. Swing by for a Pocket Rocket Plate Ale or dare a Super Beast Barrel Aged Ruby Ale in their vibrant taproom that overlooks the brewery. Super-fresh brews are poured with the accompaniment of burgers, quiz nights and live music.  

Website: Firebrand Brewing Co

Padstow Brewing Co. Tasting Rooms, Padstow

Take a seat in the Old Post Office in the heart of Padstow, to tuck into small plates and a selection of Padstow Brewing Co.’s craft beers on tap, including First Class (with a nod to the venue). If you’re not sure which beer to try, the Tasting Flight through six of the brewery’s ales is the star of the show. Sip your way through it here, or at the more intimate Padstow Tasting Room, which you’ll find in a converted stone cottage with a refurbished cocktail lounge. 

Website: Padstow Brewing Company

The Tap Yard at Skinner’s Brewery, Truro

Leave the car at home and follow Newham’s cycle and footpath network to the revamped Skinner’s Tap Yard on the edge of Truro town centre. Relax amongst the planters and wood cladding and sip iconic beers brewed on site. With indoor and outdoor seating, the space had retained a semi-industrial feel to it, reflecting the working brewery. Good beer is also teamed with good food and entertainment – from Ann’s Pasties and street food pop ups, to live acoustic sessions and film nights.

Website: The Tapyard Riverside Bar – Skinner’s Brewery

Driftwood Spars Brewery and Brewpub, Trevaunance, St Agnes

Sample freshly brewed, small-batch ales in a historic inn turned brewpub a pebble’s throw from the sea. Not only can you taste the salt in the air from Driftwood Spars Microbrewery, the beers produced use local ingredients including tangy Cornish seaberries. All the ‘in-house’ beers are cellared, tapped and poured with zero beer miles, to be enjoyed in a characterful village pub with a sprawling terrace and beer garden footsteps from the beach. The modern Cove range, crafted with new-wave English hops, also supports Fathoms Free – a Cornwall-based charity that recovers ghost fishing gear to prevent environmental damage. 

Website: The Driftwood Spars Brewery

Verdant Taproom, Penryn

The ultra-trendy, forward-thinking Verdant Brewing Co. recently Crowdfunded to help build a big new state-of-the-art brewery, with a Taproom located next-door. In the same successful style as the rest of their ventures (checkout their Verdant Seafood Bar in Falmouth), this space serves super-fresh Verdant beer direct from the source, alongside authentic Neapolitan wood fired pizza, live music, DJ sets and film nights. The team are also taking over Schooners on the beach in St Agnes this summer, with five beers on tap and Beer and Pizza ‘Beach Packs’ on the menu. Bring it on.  

Website: The Verdant Brewing Taproom – Penryn

St Ives Brewery Taproom, Hayle

The beach-loving brewing masters at St Ives Brewery have created core beers inspired by the beauty of West Cornwall, crafted with the finest ingredients and capturing the essence of our stunning coastal surroundings. While there’s a micro taproom and shop in St Ives, as well as a Brewhouse Café overlooking St Ives beach, the place to be is their newly renovated brewery taproom in Hayle, where there’s beer and pizza every Friday, special events and foodie pop-ups. 

Website: Taproom – St.Ives Brewery

Black Flag Brewery, Perranporth

There’s nothing like drinking a beer from source – especially when that source is just five minutes’ walk from one of Cornwall’s best surfing beaches. Friday, Saturday and Sunday are beer and pizza nights at the Black Flag Brewery – an independent brewery and taproom on the North Cornish coast, crafting a wide range of beer styles from classic British bitters to American-inspired IPAs using organic malts. With a minimum of eight lines of the freshest beers there’s plenty of styles to choose from – and you can fill up your growler to take beer home, too. 

Website: Taproom – Black Flag Brewery

Bluntrock Brewery Taproom, Rock

On a mission to bring modern beer styles to their local area, George and Hugo fitted out some second-hand shipping containers to create what is now the Bluntrock Nanobrewery and Taproom. This ‘Craft Beer Container Bar’ is one of the coolest venues in Cornwall for the freshest brews direct from the source – just across the beer garden. As well as eight taps to choose from behind the bar, numerous street food trucks pop up alongside live music, community events and plenty of games to enjoy in this funky space. 

Website: Taproom — Bluntrock Brewery

Pipeline Brewing Co. St Agnes

As close to the source as you can get, in this small St Agnes setup you can pull up a bench amidst the mash tuns and fermenting tanks of the brewery. When the sun shines the tables spill out into the yard, while in the winter months the woodburner makes a cosy atmosphere to sample the full line-up of the freshest, hop-forward beers brewed by the sea.  

Website: Pipeline Brewing Co

Lacuna Brewing Co. Taproom, Penryn

Dead set on brewing beer that’s good for the planet, this little taproom in Penryn pours uncomplicated, tasty beer that’s brewed sustainably. Only open on Saturdays, there are three classics to choose from – lager, pale ale and an IPA – all of which have been brewed with a strong focus on maximum taste with minimum effect on the environment.

Website: Lacuna Brewing