Wincle Beer Co: Peak District ales with a festival spirit

Tucked into the hills on the Cheshire side of the Peak District, the Wincle Beer Company has carved out a reputation for distinctive English ales brewed in one of the most picturesque settings in the county.

The brewery combines traditional cask techniques with a willingness to innovate, using UK-sourced ingredients and fresh spring water. The result is a range of beers that feels firmly rooted in its surroundings, the kind of pint that tastes all the better after a walk through the surrounding countryside.

Wincle is not a brewery that keeps its doors closed. During the warmer months it holds open tap nights on the first Friday of every month from April to October, opening at 5pm. They are free to attend, with no ticket required, and offer drinkers the chance to sample the beers at source in a relaxed, sociable atmosphere.

The highlight of the brewery's calendar is its summer beer festival, a ticketed event that in 2025 took place over 4 and 5 July. The team prepares for it with what the brewery itself describes as military-like precision, and recent improvements have included hot shower facilities for festival-goers for the first time, along with limited-edition T-shirts on sale at the ticket office.

Food is part of the experience too. In 2025, the brewery welcomed Sprink's Food Van, serving burgers and bacon baps made from locally reared meat, a fitting partner for a business that champions the local and the homegrown.

It all adds up to a brewery that feels like a community hub as much as a producer. For many regulars, a trip to Wincle on a summer evening has become something of a tradition, combining good beer, good company and views across the hills.

As the evenings draw in, a few bottles of Wincle ale make a fine way to bring a taste of the hills home, and the brewery's online blog keeps fans up to date with its plans for the seasons ahead.

The Wincle Beer Company is based at Wincle, near Macclesfield. Check dates for open tap nights and the next beer festival at winclebeer.co.uk.