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Explore Oxfordshire’s finest breweries, distilleries and vineyards this festive season
May I raise a toast? Please join me in raising a glass to our local alcohol producers! The region’s brilliant breweries, distilleries and vineyards are clinking glasses to another great year of home-grown flavour.
From hop-heavy ales to Christmas gins and crisp local ciders, here’s our merry meander through the area’s most spirited producers — all within cork-popping distance.
Tap Social Movement is a multi-award-winning social enterprise brewery, bakery, and hospitality organisation that provides training and employment for people from prison. To date, the team have created more than 100,000 hours of fairly paid employment for prison-leavers. Tap Social recently became the first Oxford brewery to distribute its beers in Waitrose across the UK — 228 stores in all. Now available nationwide are Tap Social’s best-selling Time Better Spent (5.1% juicy IPA) and Home and Dry (4.2% hazy pale ale). The Jobsworth (3.4% session pale ale) and Time Better Spent also earned stars at the Great Taste Awards 2025. The Xmas Beer Bash (2–11pm, Saturday 13th December) at the flagship taproom on the Curtis Industrial Estate in Botley will celebrate local guest breweries including BMAN Brewery, Siren Craft Brew, Elusive Brewing, and Indie Rabble Brewing. And a quick mention for Proof Social Bakehouse & Café in Kennington, where there’s another free Late Bakes night on 19th December, with live music, seasonal bakes, and a full bar. Visit tapsocialmovement.com
If you haven’t tried SOX Brewery yet, keep an eye out — the Ipsden brewery and taproom is one of Oxfordshire’s rising stars, combining traditional techniques with a playful, modern twist. Visit soxbrewery.co.uk for more, including their crowdfunder.
For something steeped in history, head north to Hook Norton Brewery, whose iconic tower, family heritage, and award-winning ales make them a county treasure. Their brewery tours are an excellent outing that ends, naturally, with a pint by the fire; hooky.co.uk
Over in Kidlington, Little Ox Brew Co keeps things bright and flavourful with a line-up of modern, easy-drinking beers, from hoppy IPAs to rich, wintry stouts; littleoxbrewery.co.uk. And don’t miss Woodstock Brewery, quietly building a loyal local following with well-balanced beers that put craftsmanship first; woodstockbrewery.co.uk
In Abingdon, Loose Cannon Brewery proves there’s nothing “loose” about their craft — except maybe the laughter that comes with sharing a pint. Their seasonal specials are always worth a try. Pop into their lively taproom for a festive pint or two; loosecannonbrewery.com. Other breweries worth celebrating include Rebellion Beer Co in Marlow and Vale Brewery near Thame.
If gin is your thing, the Chalgrove Artisan Distillery team craft beautifully balanced gins full of local character, ideal for a classic G&T under the fairy lights; chalgroveartisandistillery.com. Abingdon Distillery is the talk of the town, turning out small-batch spirits that blend science, art, and flavour; abingdondistillery.com. Up in Bicester, Sky Wave Gin is flying high — their award-winning range has put them on the map, with bottles as pretty as the drinks inside; skywavegin.com
The Cotswolds Distillery is a haven for lovers of both gin and whisky, with a picture-perfect setting to match; cotswoldsdistillery.com. And nearby Wood Bros Distilling Co adds a rustic, farm-to-glass charm to the mix — a family-run operation distilling premium vodka, gin, and whisky straight from homegrown grain; woodbrosdistilling.com
Did you know Oxfordshire is home to some of England’s oldest vineyards? Hendred Vineyard has been producing wine since the 1970s, and its crisp whites and rosés are the perfect match for festive food; hendredvineyard.co.uk. Not far away, Brightwell Vineyard continues to build its reputation with award-winning still and sparkling wines that prove English vineyards can stand tall among their continental cousins; brightwellvineyard.co.uk
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