Legendary Harrogate brewers bounce back from challenging times with a classic beer that keeps on winning

The team behind a legendary Harrogate brewery is celebrating a UK award after bouncing back from the most challenging times in the business’s history.

Founded in 1991 by Bill Witty, like many other independent firms, Daleside Brewery struggled during, and after the Covid pandemic.

In May 2024, this small but popular business was acquired by fellow independent Rooster's Brewing Co and relocated from its Starbeck base to Rooster's facilities on Hornbeam Park.

The new owners pledged to maintain Daleside's distinct proprietary yeast strains and traditional recipes, ensuring its core line-up remained unchanged.

They have been as good as their word, as witnessed by Daleside winning Silver recently in CAMRA’s Champion Beer of Britain awards.

Daleside’s General Manager, Adam Cox, said he was thrilled by the brewery’s new national accolade after testing times.

He is particularly proud and, whisper it, even a little surprised, that the success has been due to Monkey Wrench, a long-time favourite with customers and multiple award winner which was first launched in the 1990s and whose origins go back even further.

“Daleside’s founder Bill Witty had the idea for the recipe of Monkey Wrench back in the 1980s, said Adam.

"It first won an award in the 1990s and it keeps on winning.

"This isn’t the norm in the beer industry, which just proves what a classic beer Monkey Wrench is.”

Success in the Premium Bitter category for the 5.3% abv Monkey Wrench is also down to Daleside’s continued use of the best quality malts, whole-leaf hops, Daleside’s own yeast and Harrogate water - all part of a fully traditional brewing process.

Still intrinsically a family firm despite its move to Roosters, Daleside founder Bill Witty passed in 2007 when his son Craig Witty, who first joined as a brewer in 1991, became Head Brewer.

Another former Daleside Head Brewer, Rob Millichamp, now writes a regular blog called Rob's Beer Adventure, documenting his love and knowledge of the brewing industry, including local features on the Harrogate scene.

He frequently covers local institutions such as Rooster's Brewery, Theakston Brewery, Black Sheep Brewery and Daleside Brewery.