J.W. Lees & Co.

MPA (Manchester Pale Ale)

Pale Ale - English

"The Real Refreshing Alternative. MPA is a golden ale made from all British malt, Liberty and Mount Hood hops. It’s brewed especially for bottle to capture… Read More

"The Real Refreshing Alternative. MPA is a golden ale made from all British malt, Liberty and Mount Hood hops. It’s brewed especially for bottle to capture the full, hoppy character of our cask beer - it’s the perfect alternative to draught MPA. 3.7% ABV cask available in firkin and brewed at 4.1% ABV especially for bottle." Read Less

Harvest Ale (Matured In Lagavulin Whisky Casks)

Barleywine - English

Read Less

Bitter

Bitter - Session / Ordinary

Our most popular and famous beer. JW Lees Bitter is an all-malt brew and sets the standard for Northern ales. One of the CAMRA guidebooks described it… Read More

Our most popular and famous beer. JW Lees Bitter is an all-malt brew and sets the standard for Northern ales. One of the CAMRA guidebooks described it as an 'amber beer with malty and citrus fruit aftertaste'. They approved and we hope you do too.

First brewed in 1828. Now featured in the book '1001 Beers You Must Try Before You Die.' Read Less

Moonraker

Strong Ale - English

There's a story about some farm labourers who thought that the reflection of the moon in a pond, not far from our brewery, was a lovely truckle of Lancashire… Read More

There's a story about some farm labourers who thought that the reflection of the moon in a pond, not far from our brewery, was a lovely truckle of Lancashire cheese. They tried to rake it out, but ended up falling in. You might find a pint of this stuff just as mesmerising. First brewed in 1950. Now featured in the book '1001 Beers You Must Try Before You Die.' Read Less

Manchester Craft Lager

Lager - Pale

Read Less

Plum Pudding

Winter Ale

Back by popular demand, Plum Pudding will definitely put you in a festive mood. This beer is specially made with Christmas in mind. Brewed with pale ale… Read More

Back by popular demand, Plum Pudding will definitely put you in a festive mood. This beer is specially made with Christmas in mind. Brewed with pale ale malt, Styrian Goldings hops and a hint of ripe fruit. A rich dark beer full of Christmas pudding fruitiness. Read Less

Founder's

Bitter - Extra Special / Strong (ESB)

Breweries often used to hold back their extra special bitter for the Directors or Chairman, but we think everyone should enjoy the very best. Named in… Read More

Breweries often used to hold back their extra special bitter for the Directors or Chairman, but we think everyone should enjoy the very best. Named in honour of John Lees, it's a colourful, well-balanced and full-bodied premium bitter, with a nutty finish. Our recipe makes use of ale and crystal malt, and Pilgrim and Golding hops. The result is a beer with nothing held back, fit for the good man himself. Read Less

Harvest Ale (Matured in Calvados Casks)

Barleywine - English

Read Less

Harvest Ale

Barleywine - English

Harvest Ale is a limited edition vintage barley wine, made once and once only from the first hops of the year and the very finest British malt. The beer… Read More

Harvest Ale is a limited edition vintage barley wine, made once and once only from the first hops of the year and the very finest British malt. The beer quickly gained a cult following of ale enthusiasts who recognised its quality and relish in the different flavours each vintage brings and the evolution that comes with ageing over time. In the past 29 years, the beer has grown in popularity and in some bars around the world it has gained legendary status, with older vintages being highly sought after and changing hands for up to $60 per bottle. Read Less

Manchester Star Ale

Old / Stock Ale

Manchester Star was a brew discovered in an old recipe book (from about one hundred years ago). Manchester Star is a 7.3% ABV, dark ale, with chocolate,… Read More

Manchester Star was a brew discovered in an old recipe book (from about one hundred years ago). Manchester Star is a 7.3% ABV, dark ale, with chocolate, malty overtones and a warming finish made from 100% British ale malt, chocolate malt and Goldings hops. Manchester Star Ale is available in 100 Sainsbury’s stores nationwide (check which stores stock Manchester Star Ale near you). Read Less

The Governor

Bitter - Session / Ordinary

This all-malt British beer created by Marco Pierre White and JW Lees Brewery, is named after Marco’s family greyhound that his father rescued. He started… Read More

This all-malt British beer created by Marco Pierre White and JW Lees Brewery, is named after Marco’s family greyhound that his father rescued. He started his racing career as Fearless, but having broken several track records was re-named The Governor. He went on to win 28 out of the 32 races that he started in Northern England. Raise your glass to The Governor and in the words of Captain Smith of The Titanic ‘Be British’.

Previously brewed at 3.8% Read Less

Harvest Ale (Matured in Port Casks)

Barleywine - English

Read Less

Stout

Stout - English

Manchester's rain is infamous, but it's made us who we are. Not only did it help create our textile industry, but it's inspired some of our greatest names,… Read More

Manchester's rain is infamous, but it's made us who we are. Not only did it help create our textile industry, but it's inspired some of our greatest names, from Lowry to Morrissey to Michael (our Head Brewer). JW Lees Stout is a dark and brooding ale that takes its inspiration - and its main ingredient - from those same northern skies. Made with pride using the finest northern water. Read Less

Cosmic Brew

Bitter - Session / Ordinary

An exploration with Professor Brian Cox. All malt amber ale.

An exploration with Professor Brian Cox. All malt amber ale. Read Less

The Boilerhouse Craft Pale

Pale Ale - American

Citra, Pilgrim and Mosaic hops.

Citra, Pilgrim and Mosaic hops. Read Less

American Classic Kentucky Common Ale

Historical Beer - Kentucky Common

Read Less

Game On

Bitter - Session / Ordinary

Read Less

Gold Ale

Blonde / Golden Ale - English

Read Less

Original Lager

Lager - Pale

Original Lager is brewed with 100% British malt, Styrian and Saaz hops, no artificial additives, long fermentation and long maturation. The lager has… Read More

Original Lager is brewed with 100% British malt, Styrian and Saaz hops, no artificial additives, long fermentation and long maturation. The lager has an enticing hoppy flavour and a great depth. We brew Original Lager to give our customers the best combination of taste and value - it’s a price fighter lager that punches well above its weight in flavour and quality. Read Less

Dragon's Fire

Bitter - Session / Ordinary

A perfect beer when celebrating any patriotic events including bank holidays, Easter, St George’s day and St David’s day. This all-malt cask ale with… Read More

A perfect beer when celebrating any patriotic events including bank holidays, Easter, St George’s day and St David’s day. This all-malt cask ale with a citrus aftertaste is guaranteed to put some fire in your belly, and make you proud to celebrate all things British! Read Less

Dark

Mild - Dark

Cask ABV: 3.5%. Bottle ABV: 2.8%. Dark mild beers used to be the workers' drink of choice after a day's toil, thanks to their light taste. Times have… Read More

Cask ABV: 3.5%. Bottle ABV: 2.8%.

Dark mild beers used to be the workers' drink of choice after a day's toil, thanks to their light taste. Times have changed, but our CAMRA gold-winning Dark hasn't. Cask-ale fanatics love it for its smooth, well-rounded character, sweet undertones and full malty aftertaste. And modern workers still reach for it after a day at the digital coalface. Read Less

True Faith

Dark Ale

True Faith is a dark chestnut-coloured beer with a smooth chocolate malt and caramel taste. The malty floral aromas and crisp bitter taste provide the… Read More

True Faith is a dark chestnut-coloured beer with a smooth chocolate malt and caramel taste. The malty floral aromas and crisp bitter taste provide the perfect balance. This nostalgic, retro brew will take you right back to the 80's, it's so good you'll think that the day will never come. Hops - Goldings. Read Less

Vanilla Cream Pale

Cream Ale

This new canary-yellow beer has an inviting aroma and subtle strawberry jam notes in its flavour, leading to a smooth and creamy finish, with the addition… Read More

This new canary-yellow beer has an inviting aroma and subtle strawberry jam notes in its flavour, leading to a smooth and creamy finish, with the addition of vanilla creating
a distinctive character. Read Less

Weaver's Shuttle

Bitter - Session / Ordinary

Autumn brings you Weavers Shuttle, ready to fuel a taste revolution. This moreish amber ale pays homage to the mill workers of the North West, including… Read More

Autumn brings you Weavers Shuttle, ready to fuel a taste revolution. This moreish amber ale pays homage to the mill workers of the North West, including our founder John Lees. Join us in cheers to those hard workers, with a pint of Shuttle. Read Less

Summer Pale Ale

Pale Ale - English

The official beer for Manchester Beer Week 2018. A collaboration between Manchester’s J.W. Lees and Northern Monk Brew Co of Leeds. This limited edition… Read More

The official beer for Manchester Beer Week 2018.
A collaboration between Manchester’s J.W. Lees and Northern Monk Brew Co of Leeds.
This limited edition Summer Pale Ale uses Northern Monk's core pale ale Faith as its main reference point, aiming to pack a resinous soft fruit punch from the use of Citra and Mosaic hops, but was fermented using JW Lees’ distinctive, 4,904th-generation yeast. Pale coloured and coming in at 5.1% ABV, it should be the ideal beer to suit the recent sunny weather. Read Less