Breweries
Derby and the surrounding area is gifted with numerous breweries producing real ale for the local area and wider audience. This page gives information on the breweries and links to their own web pages, so you can find more information. Links are shown in blue.
Derby City
Brunswick (Brew Pub) - brewery based at the Brunswick Inn on Railway Terrace, Derby since June 1991. The brewery is situated to the back of the pub and can be viewed from the corridor leading to the smoking area.
Dancing Duck (Microbrewery) - a brewery based in the West End of Derby. Their beers can always be found in Derby at the Exeter Arms.
Derby Brewing Co (Microbrewery) - brewery based in the Chaddesden area of Derby. Beers can be found at the Tap on Derwent Street, the Greyhound on Ashbourne Road and the Hole in the Wall in Mickleover.
Falstaff (Brew Pub) - brewery based at the Falstaff pub in the Normanton area of Derby. All beers can be found at the pub and also the Pot Hole in Allestree. Beers also common around the Free Trade, especially the Babington Arms, who normally have a special house beer.
Furnace :(Brew Pub) - small brewery based at the Furnace Inn on Duke Street and related to the Shiny Brewery in Little Eaton; see below.
Little (Microbrewery) - a microbrewery based in the Darley Abbey district of Derby. Changed hands in early 2020, name changed from Littleover and now associated with the No189 micropub in Allestree. Brewery moved from Osmaston to Darley Abbey in the Summer of 2024 which included a taphouse called the Tiny Tap.
Mr Grundys Brewery (Brew Pub) - a small brewery based at Mr Grundys Tavern on Ashbourne Road, Derby. The brewery is visible through the window in the garden.
RBA Brewery (Microbrewery) - a very small brewery based in Oakwood, Derby. There beers can be found occasionally the the Smithfield in Derby and the Sawley Junction in Sawley/Long Eaton. See the Further Information section below.
Derby CAMRA Area
Black Hole(Microbrewery) - brewery formally near Burton on Trent and now based on a small industrial estate in Little Eaton.
Boot Beer (Brew Pub) - the Boot can be found in the centre of the historic town of Repton, just a short walk from Repton Cross. The brewery was originally based in a small building at the back of the pub, however, the beers are now brewer under license by Littleover Brewery..
John Thompson (Brew Pub) - a long established brew pub based at the John Thompson Inn in Ingleby.
Morgans Brewhouse (Brew Pub) - brewery based at the Spirit Vaults in Melbourne.
Shiny Brewing (Microbrewery) - brewery formally based at the Furnace Inn on Duke Street, now based in Little Eaton.
Former Breweries
For information on former breweries in the Derby CAMRA area please see our separate Brewery History page.
Further Information
Little
Originally called Littleover brewery after the suburb of Derby where the person who setup the brewery grew up. The brewery is actually located off the Osmaston Road near the center of Derby. In 2021 the brewery re-launched itself and shortened its name to Little.
RBA Brewery
Richard Burton and his brother in law Colin Fryer retired from their jobs roughly at the same time back in mid 2013. Two years later with a little more spare time on their hands Richard wanted to try and "put right" what his late father called home brewed beer.
After buying one or two pieces of kit they set out thinking it would be easy.
Eventually, in early 2019 the goal was achieved to see one of their beers on sale in a pub. It was a very interesting "apprenticeship", recalls Richard.
Trying to create stunning beers, carefully crafted using the finest ingredients sourced from across the world is no easy feat, but RBA makes no compromise in its search for creating boutique beers with reverence for the past and a forward-looking attitude.
RBA try to turn their hand to a wide range of styles from traditional English beers to US-style ales, one factor remains constant - quality.
Paying careful attention to their malt choices, the character of the hops, and selection and propagation of the yeast, the quality of the water is equally important.
Since beer is 90% water, it is a crucial ingredient in brewing.
All their beers use reverse osmosis water building back minerals so that it is finely tuned to ensure a perfect match to the beer style. Nothing is left to chance.
The main drive developing their beers is quality, from the choice of ingredients through to the brewing process itself resulting in beers that are always true to their style and perfectly crafted.
Last updated 21st July 2024
