Summerskills Brewery
Unit 15 Pomphlett Farm Industrial Estate, Broxton Drive, Plymouth, PL9 7BG
Member Overview
Plymouth’s Oldest Independent Brewery • Est. 1983 • Traditional Cask & Bottle‑Conditioned Ales
Summerskills Brewery is Plymouth’s oldest independent brewery, producing traditional cask and bottle‑conditioned ales since 1983. Originally founded at a Bigbury vineyard by Adam Summerskill, the brewery moved to its long‑term home in Plymstock in 1985, where it continues to brew characterful, award‑winning beers using high‑quality English ingredients and time‑honoured methods.
Today Summerskills remains committed to small‑batch craftsmanship, using whole-leaf hops from Herefordshire and Worcestershire, heritage malt from Warminster Floor Maltings and “wet” yeast to minimise waste. Spent grains are collected by a local farmer for cattle feed, reflecting the brewery’s deeply rooted sustainability ethos.
Summerskills supplies pubs, shops and restaurants across Plymouth, West Devon, South Hams, Torbay, Exeter, Dorset and Cornwall, with many pubs featuring their ales as guest rotations — including JD Wetherspoon venues across the region.
Their reputation for quality is longstanding: in 1993 Summerskills’ Best Bitter won the Supreme Championship at the Maltings Beer Festival, voted “Best in the West” by fellow brewers — one of their proudest achievements.
The brewery continues to innovate, crafting seasonal specials, collaborations with local pubs, and unique releases such as the Urban Brew coffee stout (SIBA SW Gold Award 2025) and Akela IPA (SIBA Bronze 2025).
Summerskills Brewery Highlights
- Founded: 1983; Plymouth’s oldest independent brewery
- Traditional brewing techniques: whole-leaf hops, floor‑malted barley, wet yeast
- Supplies pubs, restaurants and wholesalers across the South West
- Seasonal, collaborative and charity brews, including Redcoat, Devon Frost & Mr Jones
- SIBA award‑winning beers.
- On-site brewery shop & annual open day.
Core Beer Range:
Start Point – golden session ale
- Westward Ho! – golden amber, zesty finish [Summerskills]
- Devon Dew – honey‑yellow, floral aroma, grapefruit finish
- Bolt Head – ruby red, sweet rum‑like aroma, citrus finish
- Indiana’s Bones – rich dark winter ale, soft chocolate notes
Summerskills also produces seasonal beers, including First Light (summer), South Star / Indiana’s Bones (winter), and a rotation of favourites such as Whistle Belly Vengeance and Ninja
Tours & Experiences
Summerskills hosts a popular Open Day each July, allowing visitors to tour the brewery, sample ales and meet the brewing team.
- Summerskills Brewery Plymouth | Devon craft beer | independent breweries South West | traditional cask ale Devon
- Plymstock Brewery | Start Point beer | Westward Ho ale | award‑winning Devon ales
Where to find us