Two Flints, Windsor

Two Flints, Windsor local taprooms and craft beer bars Berkshire

One of the newer breweries in Berkshire, Two Flints, slapbang on Windsor’s famed Beer Mile, is every hipster’s dream. The interiors are state-of-the-art with social bench seating and exposed steel beams, but of course it’s their beer that does all the talking. The ground floor bar sees the full Two Flints range on draught, 12 in total, with guest beers in regular rotation. If the hoppy stuff isn’t your thang, cocktails, cider, wine, and softies are also available. Our recommendation? Grab a window seat and watch the world go by with the castle for a backdrop.

Siren Craft Brew Taproom, Finchampstead & Reading

Who needs a taproom when you can have a tap yard? Siren Craft Brew’s original taproom is located on an industrial estate in Finchampstead so expect a distinctly urban flavour. Totally here for the corrugated walls and pallet tables. Siren produces a huge number of quality craft beers, and there’s Street Food pop-ups every Sat too. But make way for the shiny new addition to the Siren family. Their brand-new flagship bar opened in Reading in May this year, bringing more than 30 lines of brewery fresh beer to the town. The interiors are super mod and there’s a big outside space too, plus they serve street food and roasts on Sundays.

Renegade Brewery, The Old Dairy, Yattendon

Renegade Brewery Taproom and Kitchen Yattendon

Renegade Brewery seriously boosted Yattendon’s social scene when it opened its doors (or, erm, corrugated shutters) in 2017 – and scooped up a Muddy Award for Best Bar shortly afterwards. The brewery and taproom are tucked away on the site of The Old Dairy – now a buzzy hotspot with craft beer, family-friendly menu, live music events and quiz nights. It even made a guest appearance on the 2022 season of The Apprentice. Cheers to that!

Double Barrelled Taproom, Stadium Way Reading

Double Barrelled Taproom, Stadium Way Reading local taprooms and craft beer bars Berkshire

Another craft beer success story. Double Barrelled Brewery can be found on the industrial labyrinth that is Stadium Way (near Howdens in case you need a landmark or a kitchen). Started by Mike and Luci Clayton-Jones, they brew, can, and serve their core and limited edition craft beers at their Reading warehouse. The taproom is open on Thurs to Sun and is growing a good rep for events, comedy nights, live music and indie markets. Parker pale ale gets the Muddy thumbs up. If you’re hungry, they have regular visiting street food vendors too. Yum.

Indie Rabble, Windsor

Venture under the beautiful railway arches and find Two Flint’s next door neighbour, Indie Rabble. The cool kids haven’t been open long (since August 2023 to be exact) but already they’ve made quite the splash, scooping awards for their wonderful brews. The taproom is funky, warm, and welcoming, with 12 lines on draught, and you’ll even catch a glimpse of their 20HL electric powered brewhouse in the flesh. The best part though? Only a two minute stumble to the train station. Open Thurs – Sun.

Windsor & Eton Brewery Tap, Vansittart Estate, Windsor

Windsor & Eton Brewery Tap, Vansittart Estate, Windsor local taprooms and craft beer bars Berkshire

Unit 4 Brewery Tap opened in autumn 2021. It’s in the same location as the brewery, with a whopping 20 beer lines offering Windsor and Eton’s bitters, IPAs, and pilsners alongside some guest beers and ciders. The space maintains its industrial flavour with a sprinkling of style, offering a family-friendly menu of crowd-pleasing dishes for brunch, lunch, and dinner. Muddy readers are clearly as drunk in love with them as we are as the brewery scooped the award for Best Local Food/Drink Producer at this year’s Muddy Awards. Brilliant stuff.

Phantom Brewing Co, Reading

Phantom Brewery Taproom local taprooms and craft beer bars Berkshire

The taproom scene is thriving in Berkshire – case in point, Phantom Brewing Co’s The Haunt & Neon. Again, it’s off the beaten track in an industrial unit off Caversham Road. It’s open Thurs – Sun serving the freshest beer using quality ingredients. Street food available here on Fridays and Saturdays, any other day make sure you line your stomach before you hit the bar. Make sure to visit their newest taproom, Echoes, in Henley-on-Thames too where there’s 10 taps with a range of craft beer.

Blue Collar Corner, Reading

Blue Collar Corner, Hosier Street, Reading

Ready for shipping container chic? Blue Collar Corner is an awesome spot in Reading – a former derelict site on Hosier Street which has been transformed into a hip hangout celebrating the best local food and drink producers. Double Barrelled beers are on tap, with different street food sellers to keep the wheels firmly on – the fried chicken from Gurt Wings are epic. I’m also a fan of the incredible bao buns from YouBao. Settle in for a sesh on the rooftop bar, enjoy the DJ sets and soak up those London Town vibes in Berkshire.

A Hoppy Place, Maidenhead & Windsor

A Hoppy Place, St Leonard's Road, Windsor local taprooms and craft beer bars Berkshire

Let’s hear it for our Muddy Awards 2024 winner for Best Wine and Beer Specialist. You can find the taproom on the cool St Leonard’s Road on the edge of Windsor, offering a library of award-winning beers, wine and spirits from artisan producers around the world. A Hoppy Place is a total labour of love, and their Maidenhead taproom opened in June 2022 complete with 14 keg lines, three rotating cask, and a permanent Stardust line. Pretty darn cool if you ask us.

Sit & Sip, Wokingham

Boutique bars are big in London, but Berkshire’s starting to get its fair share too. Case in point, Sit & Sip in Wokingham. It’s a hip hangout, serving local beers, artisan spirits and bang-on-trend drinkies that can lead you down a yellow brick road of new tipples. They source small batches of pretty much everything, bar the two taps dedicated to Finchampstead’s Siren beers. Don’t forget to check out the fridges – packed to the rafters with more than 100 cans and bottles from the best breweries in the world. The food offering is limited to grazing and snacking, but the quality is paramount.

The Hive, Crowthorne

Coffee shop by day, craft beer tasting room by night (it’s 5pm somewhere, right?). The Hive in Crowthorne is Alex and Emma Rowley’s baby, sharing their passion for great coffee, craft beer, and gin. You’ll find six ever-changing small batch craft beers on tap and a rainbow of cans and bottles to tickle your fancy. The sharing boards also showcase the brilliance of local cheese and meat producers. Wearing their #supportlocal like a badge of honour.

Stardust Brewery Taproom, White Waltham

No frills, but seriously good beer. Stardust Brewery can be found just outside Maidenhead in a farm unit in White Waltham village. Design mavens avert your eyes, there’s nothing to see here. But if you like good beer, the bijou taproom will serve up a cracking pint for you to try before you buy. Optic Pale Ale is a tried and tested favourite, but I like the sound of Hop Tub too. Open Mon-Fri 10am-6pm.

Cheers! 12 best local taprooms and craft beer bars

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