BREWERIES

On Monday, the British brewing scene took an interesting turn as the nation’s largest pub retailer and brewer, Greene King, was sold to the Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing. It is too early to predict the consequences of that deal but, meanwhile, the British craft brewing scene goes from strength to strength (although lower-alcohol beers continue to proliferate). Happily, there is no shortage of picturesque – and often historic – breweries to explore, and plenty of pints to try.

CHESHIRE

Bollington Brewery

A 90-minute tour here is followed by lunch at Bollington’s pub, The Vale Inn; cask beers include a summery Long Hop pale ale and the warming Oak Mill stout. Visitors come from as far as Japan, America and New Zealand, and it also hosts the Bollington 3 Peaks Fell Race – Britain’s only fell race to start and finish at a brewery. bollingtonbrewing.co.uk

KENT

Westerham Brewery, Tap Room and Shop

This brewery hang-out and taproom hosts food trucks The Moules & Bread Shed, Jacob’s Ladder Butchery and Pizza Federicci for special events, and there’s a “brewer for a day” experience to be had too. Visit on Sept 28 to wash down schnitzel and bratwurst with a stein of its German-style Helles Belles at “Oktoberwest”. Pure water is sourced from the nearby Greensand aquifer, and the focus is on heritage yeast strains and Kentish hops. westerhambrewery.co.uk Shepherd Neame Brewery, Faversham This is Britain’s oldest brewer (since 1698). On a tour, you’ll see brewing and fermentation vessels, taste the natural mineral water from the brewery’s well, discover the history of brewing in Kent, try some malted barley and inhale the aromatic, grassy scent of Kentish hops amid hoppicking memorabilia. Shepherd Neame also hosts suppers and beer-pairing

evenings. We like the Whitstable Bay Blonde lager. Shepherd Neame owns more than 300 pubs to visit – from the Anchor in Faversham to Telegraph columnist Stephen Harris’s Michelin-starred The Sportsman in Seasalter. shepherdneame.co.uk

GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Hillside Brewery, Longhope

Hillside, on the edge of the Forest of Dean, hosts

pop-up tap nights, a summer dog show and a yearly child-friendly beer festival (youngsters get in for free). The Hop Barn is kitted out with a ping-pong table, retro Nintendo games and giant Jenga. As well as tours, unusual experience days on offer year-round include “beer Pilates”, bubble football and clay pigeon shooting. Classic brews include the Legend of Hillside English IPA. hillsidebrewery.com