Buxton Brewery

Buxton Brewery was founded in 2009 in the spa town of Buxton, on the edge of the Peak District in Derbyshire. It started in a family garage and has grown into one of the more respected craft breweries in the North of England, building a reputation on ambitious hop-forward beers and an adventurous approach to brewing that goes well beyond the standard craft offer.

The flagship is Axe Edge, a 6.8% IPA named after the moorland plateau to the south of Buxton, citrusy and resinous with the kind of bitterness that defines the style. The range extends to New England IPAs, session beers, gluten-free lager, and periodic limited releases and archive brews that give the brewery some of its credibility among serious craft beer drinkers. They have a taphouse in Buxton and a second taproom called Trackside, both overlooking the peaks, which have become genuine destinations.

The alcohol-free offering is modest. Axed is a 0.5% IPA that carries citrus and nectarine characteristics, applying the house hop philosophy to a low-alcohol format. They also make a hop water at 0.0%, which is hopped sparkling water rather than a beer. Neither product is central to the brand's identity, and Buxton is unlikely to prioritise AF expansion given how firmly the brewery is positioned around full-strength craft.

A solid choice for anyone who wants a low-alcohol IPA from a brewery that clearly knows what it is doing with hops.

The Collection

Axed IPA