You might not have realised, but tucked away in Golcar village is an award-winning brewery.

Golcar Brewery, established by John Broadbent in 2001, began as a venture to brew ales for his village pub, the Rose and Crown.

Now the Swallow Lane company has expanded to supply beers across West Yorkshire, offers brewery tours and boasts a CAMRA Champion Beer of Britain winning ale.

With a bar set up in the brewery itself, John has gone beyond supplying the brewery-owned pub and branched out into hosting quiz nights, charity events and corporate functions, just a stone’s throw from his front door in the village.

John said: “I’ve been brewing here since 2001 but I’ve been in the drinks business and technical services sector since 1980. I bought the Rose and Crown and decided I would start brewing for the pub.”

In 2010 Golcar Brewery’s Dark Mild won the bronze at CAMRA’s Champion Beer of Britain, while Golcar Mild has won gold more than once at Rotherham’s Real Ale and Music Festival, the largest of its kind in Yorkshire.

Golcar brews two light beers, a porter and seasonal ales, using traditional English hops and recipes.

The brewery also makes a special beer for Golcar Lily Day and a produces a Christmas tipple — Ruddy Duck.

The brewery does a three-and-a-half-barrel brew each week and also sells bottled ales, with Golcar bottled beers available from Bolster Moor farm shop.

John Broadbent of Golcar Brewery, Swallow Lane, Golcar
John Broadbent of Golcar Brewery, Swallow Lane, Golcar

The ales are also featured at ale festivals in Huddersfield and Wakefield — it’s more than a full-time job for John, 64, and his small team.

He is aided by a part-time brewer and a secretary, but delivers the beer himself to pubs across the county and hosts brewery tours.

“It’s very hard work to be honest,” he said. “I’m just going to keep going until I can’t!

“I’ve been doing this for 14 years. I like the satisfaction of producing nice ales.”

The brewery also sells barrels of ale to people hosting parties and barbecues, complete with the equipment needed to serve it and a demo in how to use it.

Golcar Lily Day , to be held this year on May 9, is a busy day for John and the brewery.

It opens its doors to offer beer tasting, brewery tours and serve the beer specially brewed for the fundraising event.

The brewery also serves vegetarian food made by John’s wife, and donates the proceeds to Kirkwood Hospice.

“It’s lovely, the yard is full of people,” he said. “It’s a really good day.”

With the brewery so close to his home, taking a proper break from work can be tricky — but John finds escape on his boat.

“I do a bit of yachting,” he said. “That’s my break!”