Unit 3, Industrial Estate Claylands, 4 Walkers Yard, Dukeries Way, Worksop
Website: Grafton Fine Ales
About the brewery
Grafton Fine Ales was founded as the Grafton Brewing Company in 2008, originally based behind the Packet Inn on Bescoby Street in Retford. In 2012 the brewery won its first award and in 2014 moved to new premises in Worksop, increasing production from 5 brewer’s barrels to 15 brewer’s barrels.
The brewery is named after the Grafton Hotel on Gateford Road in Worksop, which was built in 1865 by Joseph Gardside, one of the founders of Worksop and Retford Brewery. Gardside’s wife was called Catherine Grafton and the hotel and street are named after her.
During the 2020 lockdown, the head brewer’s wife and co-owner Susan Hale introduced an e-commerce site to keep the brewery going (growing the business in the process) and reused the left over grain from the brewing process to make gin – using this for a new venture ‘Cocktail in a Box’.
Head brewer: Richard Hale.
Regular beers
Black Abbots (ABV 5.0%) is a dark porter.
Copper Jack (ABV 4.5%) is a classic bitter.
Don Jon (ABV 4.8%) is a pale ale that is brewed with lager malt and well hopped, delivering a citrus aftertaste.
Garsdale Gold (ABV 4.5%) is a golden beer with a good head and a hoppy finish.
Priorswell Pale (ABV 4.5%) is a pale ale with a crisp flavour and a hoppy finish.
Regular seasonal beers and specials
Apricot Jungle (ABV 4.8%) a golden ale with an apricot and smooth honey flavour.
Banana Licious (ABV 4.5%) a brown ale with a caramel and banana flavour, finishing with a smooth bitterness.
Caramel Stout (ABV 4.8%) a stout made with caramel and caramalt that has caramel and toffee flavours.
Coco Loco (ABV 5.0%) a dark porter type ale infused with coconut, with a chocolate finish.
Pasha Pasha (ABV 4.0%) a golden ale with a fruity passionfruit taste and a bitter aftertaste.
Raspberry Redemption (ABV 4.0%) a golden ale with a fruity & raspberry taste and a citrus & zesty nose.
Tango with a Mango (ABV 4.8%) a golden ale with a mango flavour.
Vanilla Height (ABV 4.0%) a golden ale with vanilla notes on the nose and a bitter aftertaste.
Fancy a pint?
The Malt House opened on Potter Street in Worksop in November 2019 as the brewery tap for the Grafton Brewery. The La Roca Tapas Bar operates on the same premises. The Malt House is located opposite the Town Hall.
Tours and Takeaways
The Grafton Brewery sells a range of bottled ales from its website, including cases of Apricot Jungle, Caramel Stout, Priorswell Pale and mixed cases. If you fancy making a weekend out of a visit to the Malt House, why not see how you can combine it with other local attractions, pubs and breweries in our Abbeys, Parks and Crags Tour.