Best Places for Craft Beer in Newcastle Gateshead

Thirsty for a zingy IPA or a hoppy craft beer? NewcastleGateshead is home to some of the best breweries, microbreweries, tap rooms and pubs which stock a wide range of craft beers, IPAs, cask ales and kegs. Beer connoisseurs searching for where to go for a refreshing craft beer in Newcastle and Gateshead will find what they’re looking for at local pubs, breweries and even at independent shops and retailers across the region. If you’re drawn in by the wacky name of a craft beer or you like to let your eyes choose your beer from the artistically designed tin, you’ll be wow-ed by the selection on offer. Curious fans of the craft can also head on a number of brewery tours to discover the blood, sweat and beard that goes into creating the perfect pint.

The independent craft beer scene is booming in the North East and with a highly decorated bunch of local breweries opening up their own venues as well as supplying the length and breadth of the region with their top-quality creations, there are no shortage of ways to enjoy a craft beer in Newcastle and Gateshead. Artisan brewers are branching out from IPAs, cask and craft beer to include saison and seltzers in their repertoire too.

The region’s contribution to the vastly popular craft beer scene has come a long way since it’s world-famous Newcastle Brown Ale days and with big hitters including Wylam Brewery, Tyne Bank Brewery and Anarchy Brewery to name just three businesses which continue to thrive – we recommend you head out into Newcastle to sample the wares.

Many of the best breweries and taps rooms are found around the fringes of the city in suburbs including Heaton and Ouseburn, or hidden in plain sight amongst the flashier bars in Newcastle. Read on for our guide to craft beer venues in NewcastleGateshead.

Wylam Brewery at Palace of Arts, Exhibition Park

One of the OGs of North East breweries, Wylam Brewery have been settled in its Newcastle home within Exhibition Park since 2016. The professional craft beer-tasters out there must head to the impressive venue to sample their most iconic brews straight from the tap. Their well-known craft beers include Jakehead, Hickey the Rake and Lush, but an ever-increasing run of new, imaginatively named brews appear all the time. Stop by the Palace of Arts to soak up the whole experience or find Wylam Brewery's vast array at many pubs in the region - you can also find a whole range alongside many other local brewers on sale at Fenwick Food Hall. Palace of Arts is also home to a banging event programme serving up live music, DJs and street food festivals all year round.

By the River Brew Co, Gateshead Quayside

Sister venue to Wylam Brewery, By The River Brew Co has been pouring pints for punters on Gateshead Quayside from their edgy microbrewery since 2018. Sip a pale ale, cider or keg beer while you watch the world go by or head into the Hawker Market at the weekend to pair your beer with some of the best local street food.

Brinkburn Brewery, Bar & Kitchen

On the edge of Ouseburn, Brinkburn Brewery has a quirky, thrown-together vibe which really works. The independent venue is able to provide the perfect location for both lively Fridays and lazy Sundays. As with everywhere on this list, Brinkburn Brewery is passionate about locally brewed craft beer and serve their own creations from keg and cask beers on tap to flights of beers for those who can’t decide, and pilsners including Hit the North IPA or Ford Street IPA. Go behind the scenes with a range of Brewery tour experiences too such as a guided session with one of Brinkburn’s exceptional brewers who will take you on a tour of their fully functional micro-brewery.

Tyne Bank Brewery and Tap Room, Ouseburn

With American IPAs, cask beers and blondes; British bitters, stouts and pale ales to their name, Tyne Bank Brewery has a wide range of creations ready for the tasting. The multi-award-winning brewery invites you along for great craft beer and good times from Thursdays – Sundays every week. Tyne Bank Brewery is another Newcastle venue which not only has the best in brews but has an eclectic events line-up from brewery tours, food festivals and dog-socials for your four-legged drinking pals.

Anarchy Brewery, outskirts of Newcastle

Found outside of Newcastle in a business park in Benfield, Anarchy Brewery pride themselves on producing the most exciting and upcoming styles of beer possible as well as maintaining a successful core range of cask beers. You’ll find many of their beers, including the likes of Blonde Star and punchy Boneyard (which is 9% so not for the faint-hearted) at bars and pubs around the North East too. They also created a regular street food event which The Hairy Bikers featured on their TV show recently and run brewery tours and tasting sessions at their venue.

Full Circle Co., Hoults Yard Ouseburn

Sat between Brinkburn Brewery and Tyne Bank Brewery if you were to go on a brewery crawl, Full Circle Brew Co. is found in Hoults Yard and relatively new to the scene, it has been excelling since it opened in 2018. Ranked in the top 10 new breweries in the World by RateBeer in 2020, Full Circle Co is certainly one to check out. They have some of the fruitiest selections and definitely the jazziest artwork. Many of their beers are vegan-friendly too.

Firebrick Brewery, Grainger Market Newcastle

Pop into Grainger Market in Newcastle and visit Firebrick Brewery’s stall for the personal touch. Some of the friendliest staff are waiting to talk to you about all things craft beer and if you’re not sure what you’re looking for, the knowledgeable experts will be ready to give you their tips and suggestions for best brews to buy. Equally, you can sit a while and sip a beer (try Toon Broon, Wey-Aye PA or Tyne 9 to get your started) while you watch the bustle of the market. 

Arch 2 Brewpub, Ouseburn

Ouseburn in general is a great jumping off point for anyone with a passion for craft beer. Try Arch 2 which is a quirky micro-brewery and part of independently owned Newcastle Brewing Ltd. Huddle round the fit pits and c hoose from flavourful beers including Blondes, Pale Ales, IPAs, Brown Ales, Saisons and Porters. Alternatively, start a craft beer crawl sample a range of local brews at some of the friendliest pubs from The Tyne Bar to The Cluny, The Ship to The Cumberland Arms.

Block and Bottle, Heaton

Join the queue and fill up your Growlers! Block and Bottle is an award-winning butcher and deli in Newcastle’s suburb of Heaton. Alongside the best in fresh meat and produce, Block and Bottle also has fridges filled with the best in local craft beers to take home and constantly changing draught beer taps for you to fill up your growlers. Also in Heaton, stop off at Heaton Tap which is certainly small, but perfectly formed!

Split Chimp, Newcastle

Under the arches of the railway line, Split Chimp is a great micro pub and bottle shop not far from Newcastle Castle and Newcastle Central Station. Relax a while in their armchairs and enjoy a weekly range of cask ales as well as kegs, beers and ciders. Not far from Split Chimp, try recent addition Mosaic Tap where you can pick from ten taps of craft beer, or natural wine, organic cider and a fridge with cans to takeaway with you.

Dat Bar, Newcastle

Dat Bar in the centre of Newcastle is a vibrant place to be most nights of the week! With an ever-changing range of draught beer on tap and some of your classic beers in bottles and cans from the likes of local brewing giants Anarchy Brew Co., Tyne Bank Brewery and Allendale – it’s a great bar in the midst of Newcastle’s lively nightlife where you’re guaranteed to get a top-quality craft beer.

Mean-Eyed Cat, Newcastle

Off the beaten track, Mean-Eyed Cat is small and cosy but packs a punch when it comes to character. Not far from Newcastle University, the independent bar has cask beers, kegs and IPAs as well as a great selection of porters, stouts and sours.

The Central Bar, Gateshead

Gateshead’s The Central Bar is an excellent and friendly local found in a very unusually shaped, historic building. The pub has a large selection of real and craft ale and beers from cask to keg, bottle to can. Go for the beer, stay for the live music!