Beer is a serious subject — especially when hosting a supplier visit. And when that supplier is Thornbridge Brewery, bringing a trunk full of exceptional samples, the occasion becomes truly special. From Jaipur to Cocoa Wonderland, AM:PM, and even the sour ale Love Among The Ruins, it was an incredible opportunity to discover one of the most acclaimed craft breweries across the Channel. Representatives James and Mo traveled from the UK to share tastings and insights into the brewery’s history. We listened carefully.

Innovation, passion, knowledge

Founded in 2005, Thornbridge Brewery has become one of the world’s most respected names in craft beer. In its early days, beers were brewed in traditional wooden casks, and bottled versions were inspired by those original recipes. While staying true to traditional brewing, Thornbridge has always pushed boundaries — innovating with premium ingredients, creative recipes, and cutting-edge brewing techniques. Their portfolio spans stouts, IPAs, imperial IPAs, and countless other styles, all crafted with the same expertise and attention to detail.

Innovation also extends to their brewing environment. A recent investment in a state-of-the-art bottling line ensures zero oxygen infiltration, protecting beers from oxidation. Each batch undergoes a week-long forced ageing process to guarantee quality — crucial when shipping as far as Dubai and Australia. This dedication to excellence has earned Thornbridge numerous international awards. Their flagship Jaipur IPA, known for its caramel malt backbone and tropical hop profile, has won more than 150 awards since its launch, including the prestigious Best in Show at Sheffield’s Steel City Beer & Cider Festival.

The environment

Based in Bakewell, at the heart of England’s stunning Peak District, Thornbridge Brewery has thrived for over a decade. Its motto, Innovation, Passion, Knowledge, is more than words — it’s a guiding philosophy. The brewery’s origins trace back to Thornbridge Hall, a 17th-century manor house, before moving to larger, modern facilities in Bakewell to meet growing demand.

Deeply connected to its community, Thornbridge proudly sponsors major local events such as Eroica Britannia, a three-day family cycling festival, and PeakEnder, their signature beer festival combining live music, food, adventure sports, and craft beer tastings. Both events highlight the brewery’s heritage, passion, and community spirit.

The tasting experience

During our tasting, we explored what makes Thornbridge truly unique. Against industry doubts, Thornbridge proved that UK drinkers would embrace an American-style IPA. The result? Over 150 awards and an international reputation. A standout example is AM:PM, their best-selling Session IPA. As James explained, “There’s a big market for Session IPAs right now. You get the same hop flavours, but with less of a headache.” Low in alcohol yet rich in flavour, AM:PM is the fruit of rigorous research and development, and its popularity confirms the effort was worthwhile.

Another highlight was Cocoa Wonderland, a decadent stout brewed in collaboration with Sheffield Master Chocolatiers. Originally created to celebrate the chocolate shop’s anniversary during National Chocolate Week, this award-winning beer quickly became a fan favourite in the UK and abroad — even in Russia.

The final tasting was Love Among The Ruins, crowned World’s Best Beer at the 2016 World Beer Awards. This Belgian-style brown ale is aged for up to 18 months in French red wine casks with fresh raspberries. The use of Brettanomyces yeast imparts a complex lactic sharpness, and the blending of younger and older brews creates remarkable balance. And for fans of barrel-aged beer, exciting things are ahead — Thornbridge has recently secured 100 barrels from the legendary Jim Beam distillery in Kentucky.

With innovation, heritage, and passion at its core, Thornbridge Brewery continues to shape the future of craft beer while honouring its roots. And after this tasting, we can only look forward to the next creations they’ll unveil.

Discover other beers and breweries : Beer Adrienne from Bosteels brewery, René, a historic beer from Armentières in northern France  and Brett Extravaganza Farmhouse Beer from the Danish brewery Amager.