Hawkstone Brewery

Hawkstone Brewery is a craft drinks producer based in Bourton-on-the-Water in the Cotswolds region of England. The business was founded in 2005 by Emma and Rick Keene under the name Cotswold Brewing Co. The brewery was established with a particular emphasis on lager, distinguishing its initial proposition from the traditional image of British brewing, which has often been associated with cask ales and other ale styles. Its first released beer was Cotswold Premium, a German-style lager that helped establish the brewery's early identity and was later recognised by The Cotswolds Gentleman in a list of the ten best breweries in the Cotswolds. The brewery's most significant later development was its collaboration with television presenter, farmer and writer Jeremy Clarkson. Beginning in 2021, the business worked with Clarkson to produce Hawkstone Lager. The collaboration expanded the public profile of the brewery and ultimately led to the business being rebranded from Cotswold Brewing Co. to Hawkstone Brewery. Clarkson also acquired a stake in the brewery from Emma Keene, giving the relationship an ownership dimension in addition to the product partnership. The Hawkstone name became the principal consumer-facing identity associated with the brewery. Hawkstone's portfolio extends beyond beer. Its products include lager and other beer styles, cider, gin and vodka. The brewery's gin is produced using hawthorn berries, verbena and lime. For legal and production reasons, the gin is distilled at Thames Distillers Ltd. in London rather than at the brewery itself. This arrangement allows Hawkstone to market a spirits line while using an external specialist distiller for the distillation process. The brand's business model combines regional craft-brewery credentials with a highly visible personality-led partnership. Its Cotswolds location remains central to its identity, while the Hawkstone name and association with Clarkson broaden its reach beyond a purely local brewery audience. The business has also attracted attention for its growth. In 2024, Hawkstone Brewery was reported as one of the fastest-growing British companies in The Sunday Times ranking, and it appeared at number 23 in the publication's 2025 list. The brewery has experienced product-safety and labelling issues. In 2023, a batch of Hawkstone Cider was recalled because over-fermentation created a risk that containers could build up pressure and spontaneously explode. In 2025, cans of Hawkstone Spa Lager and Hawkstone Black were recalled because the packaging did not state that the products contained gluten. These incidents illustrate the regulatory and quality-control obligations attached to a drinks business operating across beer, cider and spirits. Despite these recalls, the available reference material describes Hawkstone Brewery as an active business with a broadening drinks range and a strong presence in the United Kingdom.

Hawkstone Brewery began operations in 2005 as Cotswold Brewing Co., founded by Emma and Rick Keene in Bourton-on-the-Water in the Cotswolds. From the outset, the brewery concentrated on lager rather than ale. This was reflected in its first release, Cotswold Premium, a German-style lager. The beer and brewery subsequently received regional recognition, including inclusion in The Cotswolds Gentleman's selection of the ten best breweries in the Cotswolds. A major change came in 2021, when the brewery entered into a collaboration with Jeremy Clarkson to make Hawkstone Lager. The partnership gave the business a new consumer-facing identity and linked the brewery's regional production story with Clarkson's wider media profile and agricultural activities. Clarkson later bought a stake in the brewery from Emma Keene. The company subsequently changed its name and branding to Hawkstone Brewery, although Cotswold Brewing Co. remains an important historical name for the business. Hawkstone developed beyond a single lager-led beer range. Its reported products include beer, cider, vodka and gin. The gin uses hawthorn berries, verbena and lime as botanicals. Distillation takes place at Thames Distillers Ltd. in London for legal reasons, while Hawkstone markets the resulting spirit under its own brand. This gives the brewery a wider drinks portfolio than its original lager focus. The company's later visibility was supported by reported business growth. It was included among the fastest-growing British companies in The Sunday Times list published in 2024 and was placed at number 23 in the corresponding 2025 list. The available material does not provide the underlying revenue figures or methodology for those rankings, but the appearances indicate increased commercial attention. Hawkstone has also faced two product-compliance episodes. In 2023, a cider recall followed concerns that over-fermentation could cause containers to become pressurised and potentially explode. In 2025, Hawkstone Spa Lager and Hawkstone Black were recalled because their cans failed to declare the presence of gluten. These events form part of the brand's documented history and highlight the importance of fermentation control, packaging information and allergen labelling in its expanding drinks business.

1. 2025Ranked number 23 in growth list

   Hawkstone appeared at number 23 in The Sunday Times 2025 list.

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2. 2025Beer recalls over gluten labelling

   Hawkstone Spa Lager and Hawkstone Black were recalled because their cans omitted a declaration that they contained gluten.

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3. 2024Named among fast-growing British companies

   Hawkstone was included in The Sunday Times list of the 100 fastest-growing British companies.

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4. 2023Hawkstone Cider recall

   A cider batch was recalled because over-fermentation created a potential container-explosion hazard.

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5. 2021Hawkstone Lager collaboration begins

   The brewery began collaborating with Jeremy Clarkson on Hawkstone Lager.

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6. 2021Jeremy Clarkson acquires a stake

   Clarkson bought a stake in the brewery from Emma Keene.

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7. 2005Cotswold Brewing Co. founded

   Emma and Rick Keene founded the brewery in Bourton-on-the-Water, with an initial focus on lager production.

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A Cotswolds-based craft drinks producer focused on lager and a broader range of beer, cider and spirits, with the Hawkstone identity strengthened by its collaboration with Jeremy Clarkson.

• Cotswold PremiumLager2005

  The brewery's first reported beer, Cotswold Premium is a German-style lager that established the original Cotswold Brewing Co. identity. Its release reflected the founders' decision to concentrate on lager rather than ale and provided the basis for the brewery's early regional reputation.

• Hawkstone LagerLager2021

  Hawkstone Lager was developed through the brewery's collaboration with Jeremy Clarkson beginning in 2021. It became the principal product associated with the Hawkstone name and helped drive the transition from the Cotswold Brewing Co. identity to the Hawkstone brand.

• Hawkstone CiderCider

  Hawkstone Cider is part of the brewery's expansion beyond beer into other alcoholic drinks. A batch was recalled in 2023 after over-fermentation created a possibility that containers could become dangerously pressurised.

• Hawkstone GinGin

  Hawkstone Gin is made with hawthorn berries, verbena and lime. The spirit is distilled at Thames Distillers Ltd. in London for legal reasons and is marketed as part of Hawkstone's broader drinks portfolio.

• Hawkstone VodkaVodka

  Vodka is among the spirits produced under the Hawkstone Brewery portfolio. The available reference material confirms the product category but does not provide further detail on its recipe, production site or launch date.

• Hawkstone Spa LagerLager

  Hawkstone Spa Lager is a beer in the brewery's modern Hawkstone range. Cans were recalled in 2025 because the packaging did not state that the product contained gluten.

• Hawkstone BlackBeer

  Hawkstone Black is a dark beer product in the Hawkstone range. It was included in the 2025 packaging recall involving products whose cans failed to disclose the presence of gluten.

• 2021Jeremy Clarkson Hawkstone Lager collaboration

  United Kingdom

  The brewery partnered with Jeremy Clarkson to create and promote Hawkstone Lager, combining the Cotswolds brewery identity with Clarkson's public profile.

  Outcome. The collaboration became the foundation for the brewery's rebrand as Hawkstone and was followed by Clarkson acquiring a stake in the business.

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• 2025Recall over allergen labellingOther

  Cans of Hawkstone Spa Lager and Hawkstone Black did not disclose that the products contained gluten.

  What changed. The affected products were recalled.

  Aftermath. The recall highlighted the brewery's obligations concerning allergen and ingredient declarations.

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• 2023Recall of over-fermented ciderOther

  A cider batch presented a potential packaging-safety risk because continued fermentation could increase internal pressure.

  What changed. The affected Hawkstone Cider batch was recalled.

  Aftermath. The incident became part of the brewery's documented product-safety history.

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• 2021Launch of Hawkstone LagerProduct launch

  The brewery sought to build on its lager-led identity through a collaboration with Jeremy Clarkson.

  What changed. It began producing Hawkstone Lager with Clarkson.

  Aftermath. The partnership developed into a broader ownership and rebranding relationship.

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• Rebrand from Cotswold Brewing Co. to HawkstoneStrategy

  The Hawkstone collaboration became the brewery's most visible consumer-facing identity.

  What changed. The business adopted Hawkstone as its brewery and brand name.

  Aftermath. The company continued operating as a broader producer of beer, cider and spirits under the Hawkstone identity.

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• 2025Hawkstone beers recalled over missing gluten declarationControversy

  Hawkstone Spa Lager and Hawkstone Black were recalled because their cans failed to identify that the products contained gluten.

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• 2023Hawkstone Cider recall caused by over-fermentationControversy

  A batch of Hawkstone Cider was recalled after over-fermentation created the potential for containers to build up pressure and spontaneously explode.

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• 2025Hawkstone reaches number 23 in the 2025 growth list

  The brewery was listed at number 23 in the 2025 edition of The Sunday Times ranking of fast-growing British companies.

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• 2024Hawkstone recognised in The Sunday Times growth rankings

  Hawkstone Brewery was included among the fastest-growing British companies in The Sunday Times ranking.

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• 2021Hawkstone begins collaboration with Jeremy Clarkson

  The brewery began working with Jeremy Clarkson to produce Hawkstone Lager, starting the partnership that later became central to the company's rebrand.

  Product launchCampaign
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• Cotswold Brewing Co. is rebranded as Hawkstone Brewery

  Following the Clarkson collaboration and his acquisition of a stake from Emma Keene, the brewery adopted Hawkstone as its principal brand identity.

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1. Hawkstone Brewery
2. Official website