Thornbridge

The brewery was established in 2005 by Jim Harrison and Simon Webster in the grounds of Thornbridge Hall, near Bakewell. Its first brew was an IPA that became a reference point in the UK craft beer movement, with the brewery's identity built around ambitious, hop-forward beer styles from the outset. In 2009, Thornbridge opened a second, larger facility at Riverside in Bakewell to meet growing demand. The brewery remains independent under the ownership of its original founders and exports to over 30 countries.

Thornbridge entered the low-alcohol category in 2017, making it one of the earlier independent UK craft brewers to develop this part of their range. The AF portfolio has since expanded to cover IPAs, hazy session IPAs, and low-alcohol pale ales in both 0.5% and 0.0% formats. An alcohol-free version of the brewery's founding IPA was added in 2023 to mark Thornbridge's 18th anniversary, reinforcing the connection between the AF range and the full-strength beers that established the brand. The AF lineup sits at the premium end of the specialist AF market.

Distribution for the AF range runs through specialist alcohol-free retailers and direct via the brand's own site, with the wider Thornbridge portfolio available through mainstream trade channels. The AF lineup serves sober-curious hop-forward drinkers with formats across both 0.0% and 0.5% ABV, covering styles that closely mirror the brewery's best-known full-strength catalogue.