The Brewery History Society: Books

Email publications@breweryhistory.com for further information. Some of our books are now printed on demand by Amazon. Send us an email for more information about how to order if you prefer not to use Amazon.

Please also contact us if you wish to purchase back copies of the Society's Journal.

KENTISH BREWERS AND THE BREWERS OF KENT A directory of brewers and brewing companies across the historic county of Kent Author: Peter Moynihan A4 Paperback; Third Edition: published September 2026 An in-depth update to the book Kentish Brewers and the Brewers of Kent. The Brewers Guardian wrote in 1880: "Kent, a fruitful mother of rich-flavoured hops and choicest barley, has always been faithful to the honest drink prepared from those ingredients, and it is perhaps not too much to say that no county, at all events no purely agricultural county, is so distinguished for the number and importance of its breweries". For almost fifty years Peter Moynihan has been researching and recording those breweries. This volume, the third edition of Kentish Brewers and the Brewers of Kent, tells their stories, running to almost 450 pages, and covering locations from Acol to Yalding, and from the Abbey Brewery to Zero Degrees. New micro brewers have been added and those micros that have sadly ceased trading have also been recorded. Some historical information has been added to attempt an accurate portrayal of the brewing industry covering the old boundaries of the County of Kent. Each town or village who possessed a brewer or had a brewing company is featured. Towns & villages are in alphabetical order with a detailed cross referencing index to give a comprehensive review of this industry over the ages. Available direct from Amazon at £24.95 post-free. Go to: Amazon.
A "CRACK THING" TO BE A BREWER A social history of beer and brewing in Southwold and Adnams' Sole Bay Brewery Author: Robert Porter A4 Paperback; 237 pages. Published October 2025 A social history of beer and brewing in Southwold and specifically the development and growth of Adnams' Sole Bay Brewery. Available direct from Amazon at £19.99 post-free. Go to: Amazon.
ROYAL ALES A Directory of Commercial Brewers and Breweries of Berkshire from 1200 to 2024 Author: Mike Brown Paperback; published 2025 The latest publication from the BHS covers the historic county of Berkshire so includes the breweries around Abingdon. This book is one in a continuing strategy to document each of the counties of Britain. Over 300 pages are copiously illustrated from archive sources. Costing £19.99 plus p&p, it is available from Amazon. Alternatively, send an email to publications@breweryhistory.com for more information about how to order without using Amazon.
CHESTER ALE Author: Peter Dyer Paperback; published 2025 Here is a comprehensive and in-depth account of the development of the brewing industry in and around the historic City of Chester. It documents the growth from the earliest recorded home brewers right up until the more recent explosion of micro-breweries. Well-illustrated with 450 pages in both black and white and colour, it is the ideal reference book for all those interested in beer, brewing in this part of the British Isles. There is an invaluable bibliography, fully authenticated footnotes and a detailed index Available for £25.99 + p&p from Amazon.
WESTERHAM ALES Author: Peter Moynihan Paperback; published 2024 Back in 1991 the Brewery History Society published the first edition of Westerham Ales, long since out of print. Now, we are pleased to announce the publication of a new re-written and much enlarged, second edition to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Westerham Brewery Co. Profusely illustrated throughout its 80+ pages, in both b&w and colour and with a foreword by Robert Wicks. The new book can be ordered by just entering Westerham to order on Amazon at just £12.99. For your copy: Purchase direct from Amazon. The cost is £12.99.
BREWING IN HORSHAM By Keith Osborne and Richard Symonds A4 Paperback; published 2023 This is a 75 page colour book covering the brewers of Horsham. It documents those involved in beer production over the last 200 years and references some of those who were known to brew in the 16th and 17th centuries. Available for £12.99+ p&p from Amazon. Just enter Brewing in Horsham to order. Alternatively, send an email to publications@breweryhistory.com for more information about how to order without using Amazon. For your copy: Purchase direct from Amazon. The cost is £12.99.
BREWERS OF THE BRITISH ISLES - 1890 TO 2021 A4 Paperback: published 2022 The main source document for all brewery historians. Covering the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. More details of BREWERS OF THE BRITISH ISLES - 1890 TO 2021 For your copy: Send a request to publications@breweryhistory.com and we will arrange a payment method and post you a copy. Or Purchase direct from Amazon. The cost is £19.95.
LONDON BREWED: A historical directory of the commercial brewers of London from circa 1650. Author: Mike Brown A4 Paperback; published 2015 More details of LONDON BREWED
BREWED IN NORTHANTS - A Directory of Northamptonshire Brewers 1450 - 2010 (including the Soke of Peterborough) Second Edition Authors: Mike Brown with Brian Willmott A4 Paperback; published 2010 More details of BREWED IN NORTHANTS
OXON BREWS - Commercial Brewing in Oxfordshire Author: Mike Brown ISBN 1 873966 12 1 A4 Paperback: published 2004 More details of OXON BREWS
THE BREWERS AND BREWERIES OF NORTH-EASTERN ENGLAND: A Historical Guide Author: Brian Bennison ISBN 1 873966 08 3 A4 Paperback: published 2004 More details of NORTH-EASTERN ENGLAND
TIGER TALES AND ALES - A Directory of Leicestershire Brewers (including Rutland) 1400-1999 Author: Mike Brown ISBN 1 873966 07 5 A4 Paperback: published 1999 More details of TIGER TALES AND ALES
Former publication SOUTH YORKSHIRE STINGO - A Directory of South Yorkshire Brewers 1758 - 1995 Author: David Lloyd Parry ISBN 1 873966 05 9 A4 Paperback: published 1997 We are sorry but this publication is out of print.
Former publication ABC: A BREWERS' COMPENDIUM - A Directory of Buckinghamshire Brewers Author: Mike Brown ISBN 1 873966 15 6 A4 Paperback: published 2007 We are sorry but this publication is out of print.
Former publication PERFECTLY PURE - A Directory of Somerset Brewers excluding old North Somerset Author: Mary Miles ISBN 1 873966 14 8 A4 Paperback: published 2007 We are sorry but this publication is out of print.
Former publication JUSTLY CELEBRATED ALES: A Directory of Norfolk Brewers 1850 - 1990 Author: Andrew Davison ISBN 1 873966 01 6 A4 Paperback: published 1991 We are sorry but this publication is out of print.
Former publication FRIEDRICH'S NEW GAZETTEER: DURHAM A5 Paperback We are sorry but this publication is out of print.
Former publication THE STONE TROUGH BREWERY Author: P W Robinson First published 1990 - reprinted 1997 A5 booklet, 23 pages This booklet documents the history of this Yorkshire brewery. We are sorry but this publication is out of print.
Former publication THE BREEDS OF HASTINGS Authors: Anthony Hyde The story of the Breeds family. Covers brewing and other interests. We are sorry but this publication is out of print.
Former publication THE EMERGENCE OF THE COMMON BREWER IN THE HALIFAX DISTRICT Author: P W Robinson First published 1982 - reprinted 1998 A5 booklet, 44 pages A reprint of a 1982 edition. A very useful local survey of over 50 common brewers in the Halifax area and a discussion of their evolution, acquisition of pubs and eventual demise. We are sorry but this publication is out of print.
Former publication ESSEX BREWERS, and the Malting and Hop Industries of the County Author: Ian P Peaty We are sorry but this publication is out of print.