But many of the nation’s most historic, biggest and best-loved breweries have closed over the years.
This retro photo gallery captures life at more than a dozen of those lost breweries around the UK, from Scotland to England’s south coast, where some of the country’s most popular tipples were once made.
It shows employees hard at work inside those breweries, skimming yeast, rolling barrels and, most importantly, taste-testing the end product.
This trip down memory lane also features the much-loved old dray horses, and the centuries-old initation ceremony called ‘trussing the cooper’, in which workers completing their apprenticeship were rolled around the brewery in a barrel containing beer and wood shavings.
Three of the lost breweries pictured were at one time the largest in the world, churning out hundreds of millions of pints a year.
Some closed many years ago and have been demolished but others were lost much more recently and are awaiting redevelopment.
Several of the beers made at these breweries were among the most popular in the UK during the 60s, 70s and 80s. Some are still made elsewhere, but others are no longer available.
Did you work at one of the breweries, or do you know anyone who did, and how many of the beers made there have you sampled over the years?
If you enjoyed this trip down memory lane, you might like our look back at high street stores which used to be huge but have now closed or are struggling.
5. Webster's
The old Webster's Brewery in Halifax. It was founded in 1838 by Samuel Webster. Webster's Pennine Bitter was famously marketed in television adverts during the 70s featuring Yorkshire cricket legend Fred Trueman, with the memorable catchline 'drives out the northern thirst'. The brewery closed in 1996. | Halifax Courier
6. Gales
Gales Brewery, near Portsmouth, in Hampshire, was founded in 1847 and its popular drinks included HSB (Horndean Special Bitter) and Gales Bitter. It was bought in 2005 by Fuller's in 2005, and the brewery closed the following year, with production moving to Chiswick, West London. | Submitted
7. Wards Brewery
Paul Simpson, operations manager, at Wards Brewery, in Sheffield, pictured in May 1990. Wards began life in 1837 and moved to its famous Sheaf Brewery site on Ecclesall Road in 1878. The company, famous for Wards Bitter, was bought in 1972 by Vaux Breweries, and in 1999, the Sheaf Brewery was closed, despite still being profitable. The brewery's old arch remains at the site, which is today home to flats and a Wetherspoon's pub. | Sheffield Newspapers Photo: Sheffield Newspapers
8. Vaux Brewery
Managing director Frank Nicholson with Vaux Breweries workers on their last day, July 2, 1999. Vaux Breweries, in Sunderland, was founded in 1806 by Cuthbert Vaux. Its famous brands included Vaux's Stout, Maxim, Double Maxim, and Sunderland Best Bitter. The brewery was demolished following its closure in 1999, but the brand has since been resurrected. | Peter Berry Photo: Peter Berry