Berkshire


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-lowdown">THE LOWDOWN</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/2.jpg" alt="Renegade Brewery Taproom and Kitchen Yattendon" class="wp-image-50783" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/2.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/2-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/2-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/2-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/2-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Who needs <em>Clarkson’s Farm</em> when you can have Renegade Brewery and Taproom! Located at The Old Dairy in Yattendon is a hip hangout that’s swapped cows for craft beer. Formerly known as West Berkshire Brewery, Renegade Brewery (now owned by Yattendon Estates), has found a new identity for &#8216;dreamers, adventurers, misfits and rebels&#8217; in search of good times<strong>.</strong> But mainly it&#8217;s a place to eat and drink with the most spectacular countryside views. Let&#8217;s be honest, the best of times all involve food and drink. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/5.jpg" alt="Renegade Brewery Taproom and Kitchen Yattendon" class="wp-image-50786" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/5.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/5-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/5-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/5-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/5-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/5-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>The Old Dairy Farm is an enormous space between the pretty village of Yattendon and Frilsham, so&nbsp;staggering&nbsp;distance from&nbsp;Muddy Berks HQ for this&nbsp;intrepid&nbsp;editor. It still looks like a farm (thankfully doesn&#8217;t smell like one), large agricultural buildings and livestock in the surrounding fields.&nbsp;With brewery tours and drinkers in mind, they’ve used one of the many agricultural barns to showcase their beers with a shop, bar and kitchen.&nbsp;You&#8217;d think it&#8217;s a challenging spot to launch a restaurant and bar, with limited passing trade. So can Renegade Brewery &amp; Taproom pull it off while simultaneously pulling me a pint? Spoiler alert!&nbsp;It&#8217;s a hidden gem.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">THE VIBE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/3.jpg" alt="Renegade Brewery Taproom and Kitchen Yattendon" class="wp-image-50784" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/3.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/3-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/3-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/3-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/3-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/3-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Full disclosure, this is our local. I&#8217;ve eaten here a lot with my family, celebrated birthdays and enjoyed casual date nights with the husband (I&#8217;m nothing but thorough). On paper a brewery sounds like a blokey proposition with lots of beard stroking admiration for ales. However, park those clichés, there&#8217;s actually more families, couples, groups of friends that there are CAMRA beer snobs.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/7.jpg" alt="Renegade Brewery Taproom and Kitchen Yattendon" class="wp-image-50788" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/7.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/7-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/7-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/7-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/7-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/7-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>The rustic industrial vibe ticks all the boxes for me. Floor to ceiling glass, wood floors&nbsp;and canteen style benches and tables with heavy duty hardware that seem fitting in what is in fact a factory.&nbsp;Someone&#8217;s had the Brasso out, because the shiny polished beer stills twinkle behind the glass wall – providing a window into the secret world of brewing. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/4.jpg" alt="Renegade Brewery Taproom and Kitchen Yattendon" class="wp-image-50785" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/4.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/4-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/4-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/4-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/4-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/4-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>The space is vast – inside and out – so you would think it would need A LOT of people to make it feel buzzy. But actually that&#8217;s not the case. It&#8217;s relaxed, welcoming and that informality means everyone is able to kick back&nbsp;whether you&#8217;re their with the kids or sneaking in a drink with the dog. During the warmer months, the beer terrace is an idyllic spot for drinks in the sunshine, offering epic countryside views. It&#8217;s a little slice of West Berkshire heaven.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">SCOFF &amp; QUAFF</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/4-5.jpg" alt="RENEGADE BREWERY AND TAPROOM MENUS" class="wp-image-51161" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/4-5.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/4-5-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/4-5-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/4-5-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/4-5-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/4-5-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Despite the vast amount of fizz swigging, I love a cold lager. My drink of choice is Renegade&nbsp;while the OH, after much deliberation, chose the Queensbury Jack session ale.&nbsp;They do a stronger version of both, but honestly they would put hairs on your chest. Later I also tried a low alcohol IPA, which is a fruity beer. Not bad if want to save yourself from a banging head in the morning. If craft beer isn’t your thang, there’s wine, spirits – everything you would expect in a bar. The food is hearty, big flavoured fare, ideal for soaking up the amber nectar – beer bites, posh burgers, comforting classics and pizzas that are fresh out of the wood-fired oven. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/3-5.jpg" alt="RENEGADE BREWERY AND TAPROOM chicken wings and squid" class="wp-image-51160" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/3-5.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/3-5-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/3-5-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/3-5-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/3-5-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/3-5-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>If you&#8217;re after the traditional three courses, you&#8217;ll have to undo more than a couple of your shirt buttons, to get down with the menu. It&#8217;s a strictly casual affair. We ordered chicken wings which comes with a tasty blue cheese sauce and panko crumb squid rings with a good dollop of spicy mayo. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/6-5.jpg" alt="RENEGADE BREWERY AND TAPROOM cuban burger pulled pork and jalapenos" class="wp-image-51163" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/6-5.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/6-5-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/6-5-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/6-5-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/6-5-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/6-5-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Onto the main and we hit the specials board – the a fully loaded pulled pork burger with jalapeños, gherkins and oozy cheese. It was as dirty as it gets. Powerful flavour, messy to eat and utterly delicious. The flat iron steak was served pink and served with mushrooms, tomatoes and fries. Steak is the ultimate test. So easy to get wrong and mind-blowingly good when it&#8217;s done right. The cookery was bang on and this was anything but a dainty portion. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/5-5.jpg" alt="RENEGADE BREWERY AND TAPROOM cuban burger flat iron steak and chips" class="wp-image-51162" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/5-5.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/5-5-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/5-5-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/5-5-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/5-5-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/5-5-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>The pizzas also got the Muddy thumbs up. It&#8217;s hard to get a Margherita wrong, but there&#8217;s more adventurous varieties for the more adventurous – The Chainsaw (beef brisket, Texas BBQ sauce, jalapeños), Three Little Pigs (salami, chorizo, bacon) and Good Old Diavolo (salami and chilli). If you make to dessert, I salute you. I didn&#8217;t the kids hit the sticky toffee pudding hard. I love to tell you what it was like, but I couldn&#8217;t understand a word they were saying in between the heaped spoons diving into their mouths. Personally, I would like the option of custard rather than ice cream but the kids were definitely not complaining. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/7-4.jpg" alt="RENEGADE BREWERY AND TAPROOM cuban burger sticky toffee pudding" class="wp-image-51164" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/7-4.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/7-4-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/7-4-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/7-4-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/7-4-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/7-4-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">KID-FRIENDLY?</h2>



<p>Despite the emphasis on beer, very much so.&nbsp;The servers are young and friendly and incredibly patient, offering a good kids menu with lots of choice. They also check whether you want the&nbsp;kids&#8217; meals served with your starters or mains to avoid hangry meltdowns and there&#8217;s plenty of outside space if your brood get restless. So a double thumbs up from them.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">DOG FRIENDLY?</h2>



<p>Absolutely. There&#8217;s always a furry friend with a waggy tail to fuss – hopeful a morsel of food will drop in their vicinity. The place is huge and there&#8217;s loads of outdoor seating too so pretty darn perfect for woofers to tag along with their owners.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">ACCESSIBILITY </h2>



<p>Very very good. Everything is one one level, walkways are wide and nothing feels challenging. Brewery tours may be a bit tricky, but I&#8217;m sure there is a way to see where the magic happens from alternative entrance. Industrial has its benefits. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">OUT &amp; ABOUT</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/09/Yattendon-road-sign-1.jpg" alt="YATTENDON ROADS SIGN IN HEDGE" class="wp-image-30298" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/09/Yattendon-road-sign-1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/09/Yattendon-road-sign-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/09/Yattendon-road-sign-1-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/09/Yattendon-road-sign-1-150x100.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/09/Yattendon-road-sign-1-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/09/Yattendon-road-sign-1-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Renegade Brewery run tours, so you can have a nose behind the scenes and become a&nbsp;beery&nbsp;brainiac Love your sport? The Taproom also show large screen events like the Six Nations, Grand National and Wimbledon. A rarity in these parts.&nbsp;They also host film and comedy nights, live music, workshops, coffee and car meet ups and Forest Fest is a summer gig not to be missed. But if you want to work up an appetite, there are many nearby walks&nbsp;through woodland, fields and country lanes, to burn off some calories before hitting The Taproom and soak up the spectacular West Berkshire countryside views. There&#8217;s a lovely circular walk behind St Paul&#8217;s&nbsp;&amp; St Peter&#8217;s Church in Yattendon that is just long&nbsp;enough to justify a blowout.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/8-2.jpg" alt="RENEGADE BREWERY YATTENDON AT NIGHT" class="wp-image-51165" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/8-2.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/8-2-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/8-2-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/8-2-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/8-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/8-2-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">THE MUDDY VERDICT</h2>



<p><strong>Good for:</strong> craft beer fans, family meals out, after-work drinks, large casual get togethers. It&#8217;s a cool hangout that&#8217;s particularly lovely in the sunshine.</p>



<p><strong>Not for:</strong> refined types who can&#8217;t live without crisp linen tablecloths and amore refined menu.</p>



<p><strong>The damage:</strong> It&#8217;s pretty reasonable for this neck of the woods. Beer bites from £6, burgers from £13.50, mains from £10.50 and puds from £6.95. </p>



<p><em><a href="https://www.renegadebrewery.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Renegade Brewery Taproom &amp; Kitchen</a>, The Old Dairy,  Frilsham Farm, Yattendon RG18 0XT</em></p>


Review: Renegade Brewery & Taproom, Yattendon

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