Sharp's Brewery
Sharp's Brewery is a Cornish brewery best known for Doom Bar bitter.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Sharp's Brewery is a British brewery based in Rock, Cornwall. Bill Sharp founded the business in 1994 in the St Minver Lowlands, initially operating as a small microbrewery. It subsequently expanded within the same site, adding brewing vessels and production capacity as demand grew. Unlike many regional breweries, Sharp's has concentrated primarily on brewing rather than building a large estate of tied pubs, hotels, or restaurants. Its business is centered on the production and distribution of cask ales, seasonal beers, bottled and packaged products, and selected collaborative or specialty releases. The brewery's defining brand is Doom Bar, a 4.0% ABV bitter named after the Doom Bar sandbank at the mouth of the Camel Estuary in north Cornwall. The sandbank is associated with difficult and hazardous navigation, giving the beer a strong geographic connection to the brewery's home county. Doom Bar developed from a regional ale into one of the United Kingdom's most prominent cask beer brands and accounts for the large majority of Sharp's sales. It is served in cask form and distributed in packaged formats, with some bottled production taking place at Molson Coors facilities in Burton upon Trent rather than at Rock. The brand is available throughout the United Kingdom and has also been exported to markets including Italy, Sweden, and Japan. Sharp's growth accelerated through the 2000s as Doom Bar gained wider recognition and the brewery developed additional beers. Its range has included traditional and modern ales such as Sharp's Original, Cornish Coaster, Sea Fury, Atlantic IPA, Wolf Rock, and seasonal releases. The brewery has also produced a Cornish Pilsner, cider made through collaborations with West Country cider producers, and specialty beers created with chef and restaurateur Rick Stein. These products have allowed Sharp's to present itself as a distinctly Cornish producer while participating in broader categories such as IPA, lager, alcohol-free beer, and collaborative craft brewing. Doom Bar's commercial importance was a major factor in Molson Coors acquiring Sharp's on 2 February 2011 for £20 million. Following the transaction, Sharp's became part of the larger brewer's brand portfolio, while production of cask Doom Bar continued at Rock. Molson Coors has described Doom Bar as its largest cask ale brand. The acquisition also provided Sharp's with access to a substantially broader distribution, packaging, and marketing network. The brewery has used sponsorships, community-oriented partnerships, and regional branding to support its profile. Doom Bar was the official beer sponsor of the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race from 2008 through 2012, and Atlantic IPA has been associated with support for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution through a contribution from sales. Sharp's also operates a joint venture connected with the Mariners in Rock alongside Paul Ainsworth, although its principal activity remains brewing. In February 2026, Molson Coors announced that the Rock brewery was expected to close at the end of that year because of financial concerns, with the loss of approximately 50 jobs. Until that announced closure, Sharp's remained an operating brewery and brand; the long-term production arrangements for its beers require confirmation from later sources.
History
Sharp's Brewery was established by Bill Sharp in 1994 at St Minver Lowlands near Rock in Cornwall. The first commercial beer brewed by the company was Sharp's Original, produced as gyle number 00001 in July 1994. The brewery began on a microbrewery scale and later expanded within the same building as demand for its beers increased. A further phase of development added more vessels and increased brewing capacity at the Rock site. The brewery built its reputation around locally associated ales, with Doom Bar becoming its central product. Doom Bar is a 4.0% ABV bitter named after the dangerous Doom Bar sandbank at the mouth of the Camel Estuary. Its Cornish name and accessible bitter style helped it move beyond the local market. By 2010, more than 24 million imperial pints of Doom Bar were reportedly produced, and the beer accounted for close to 90% of Sharp's sales. It later became the highest-selling cask ale in the United Kingdom in 2019. Doom Bar's growth also made it commercially attractive to larger brewing companies. Sharp's expanded its portfolio with beers including Cornish Coaster, Sea Fury, Atlantic IPA, Wolf Rock, Sharp's Original, seasonal ales, and a Cornish Pilsner. The range covered traditional bitter, amber and red ale, IPA, lager, and limited or seasonal styles. The brewery also developed collaborative beers with chef Rick Stein, including Chalky's Bark and Chalky's Bite. Its cider activity included Orchard Cider, initially made with Cornish Orchards and later associated with Sheppy's Cider using West Country cider apples. Doom Bar received sponsorship exposure through the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race, for which it was the official beer sponsor from 2008 to 2012. Sharp's also linked some products to regional and maritime identity. A proportion of sales of Atlantic IPA was allocated to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. The company did not establish a conventional tied estate of pubs, hotels, or restaurants, maintaining a focus on brewing. It nevertheless entered a joint venture connected with the Mariners in Rock with chef and restaurateur Paul Ainsworth. On 2 February 2011, Molson Coors acquired Sharp's Brewery for £20 million. The acquisition brought the Cornish brewery and the Doom Bar brand into the international brewer's portfolio. Cask Doom Bar continued to be brewed at Rock, while bottled production was also carried out at Molson Coors's Burton upon Trent facility in Staffordshire from 2013. The change in ownership enabled broader distribution across the United Kingdom and supported exports to countries including Italy, Sweden, and Japan. Doom Bar became Molson Coors's largest cask ale brand. Sharp's continued to develop the brand beyond traditional cask beer. Doom Bar Zero, an alcohol-free variant, was launched in August 2020. The brewery and its beers also accumulated recognition in competitions including the International Beer Challenge, Brussels Beer Challenge, World Beer Awards, World Beer Cup, Taste of the West, and Publican's Choice awards. In February 2026, Molson Coors announced plans to close the Rock brewery at the end of the year, citing financial concerns and indicating that around 50 jobs would be lost. The announcement represents a major potential turning point, but the final operating status and future manufacturing arrangements require confirmation after the announced closure date.
- 2026
Planned closure announced
[1]Molson Coors announced the planned closure of the Rock brewery at the end of 2026, citing financial concerns and approximately 50 job losses.
- 2020
Doom Bar Zero launched
[1]Sharp's added an alcohol-free version of its flagship bitter to the range.
- 2019
Doom Bar becomes the UK's leading cask ale
[1]Doom Bar was reported as the highest-selling cask ale in the United Kingdom.
- 2013
Bottled Doom Bar production expands
[1]Bottled Doom Bar production was reported at Molson Coors's Burton upon Trent facility, while cask production remained associated with Rock.
- 2013
Cornish Pilsner wins major awards
[1]Sharp's Pilsner received major recognition including gold at the World Beer Awards and a bronze at the World Beer Cup.
- 2011
Acquired by Molson Coors
[1]Molson Coors purchased Sharp's Brewery for £20 million on 2 February.
- 2008
Doom Bar becomes Boat Race beer sponsor
[1]Doom Bar became the official beer sponsor of the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race, a relationship that continued through 2012.
- 2006
Doom Bar receives international recognition
[1]Doom Bar received a World Top 50 Beer award at the International Beer Challenge.
- 1994
Sharp's Brewery founded
[1]Bill Sharp founded the brewery in St Minver Lowlands near Rock, Cornwall.
- 1994
First commercial brew
[1]Sharp's Original was recorded as the first commercial beer brewed by the company, with gyle number 00001 produced in July.
Products and positioning
A Cornish regional brewery combining place-based heritage and traditional cask ale credentials with national distribution and a broad packaged-beer portfolio under Molson Coors ownership.
Bitter
Doom Bar
Doom Bar is Sharp's flagship 4.0% ABV bitter and the beer most closely associated with the brewery. It takes its name from the Doom Bar sandbank at the mouth of the Camel Estuary in north Cornwall. The beer became a major national cask ale, with cask production associated with Rock and bottled production also carried out at Burton upon Trent. It is distributed across the United Kingdom and exported to selected international markets.
Alcohol-free beer · 2020
Doom Bar Zero
Doom Bar Zero is the alcohol-free extension of the brewery's flagship bitter range. Launched in August 2020, it broadens the Doom Bar proposition for consumers seeking a beer with little or no alcohol while retaining the parent brand's Cornish identity.
Brown ale · 1994
Sharp's Original
Sharp's Original, also known at times as Sharp's Own, was the first beer produced commercially by the brewery. It is the darkest beer in the stated Sharp's range and uses roasted barley, crystal malt, and other specialty malts to create a rich brown color with caramel and roasted notes.
Ale
Cornish Coaster
Cornish Coaster is a 3.6% ABV ale named after a type of fishing vessel historically used by Cornish fishermen. It is made with an all-malt grist, English hops, and open fermentation, emphasizing the brewery's regional and traditional positioning.
Ale
Sea Fury
Sea Fury, previously known as Sharp's Special, is a 5.0% ABV ale. The beer has received festival recognition, including a Beer of the Festival award at Chelmsford.
India pale ale
Atlantic IPA
Atlantic IPA is a 4.5% ABV dry beer offered in formats including mini-kegs and polyboxes. The product has a maritime and charitable association: a proportion of each sale is directed to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
Red ale and IPA hybrid
Wolf Rock
Wolf Rock is a 4.8% ABV beer combining elements of red ale and IPA. Noble and newer hop varieties are paired with specialty malt to produce a red hue and a profile positioned between traditional ale and contemporary hop-forward styles.
Pilsner
Cornish Pilsner
Sharp's Cornish Pilsner is brewed with Pilsner malt, Czech lager yeast, and Saaz hops. It has a pale straw appearance and represents the brewery's move beyond cask ale into lager. The beer received recognition from the World Beer Awards, World Beer Cup, International Beer Challenge, and Taste of the West.
Collaborative ale
Chalky's Bark
Chalky's Bark was created with Rick Stein following a collaborative brewing challenge. The 4.5% ABV beer was triple fermented and used ginger and continental hops. It is no longer produced.
Collaborative strong ale
Chalky's Bite
Chalky's Bite was another Rick Stein collaboration. It is a 6.8% ABV beer made with three hop varieties and wild Cornish fennel, giving the product a distinctive specialty-beer character.
Cider
Orchard Cider
Orchard Cider is a 4.5% ABV cider developed through collaborations with West Country producers. It was initially associated with Cornish Orchards and later made with Sheppy's Cider using West Country cider apples and maturation in traditional oak vats.
Marketing campaigns
- 2008Doom Bar Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race sponsorship
United Kingdom
Doom Bar became the official beer sponsor of the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race, giving the brand national sports-event visibility.
Outcome. The sponsorship continued through 2012 and strengthened Doom Bar's profile beyond its Cornish base.
- Atlantic IPA RNLI support
United Kingdom
Sharp's linked Atlantic IPA sales to support for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, with a proportion of each sale contributed to the organization.
Outcome. The initiative connected the beer with Cornwall's maritime culture and a national lifesaving charity.
Brand decisions
2026
Planned closure of the Rock breweryStrategyBackground
Molson Coors cited financial concerns in announcing a planned end to brewing operations at the Rock site.
Action taken
Molson Coors announced that the brewery was expected to close at the end of 2026, affecting approximately 50 jobs.
Aftermath
The announcement could alter where Sharp's products are manufactured, but the final closure outcome and any replacement production arrangements are not established by the supplied material.
2020
Launch of Doom Bar ZeroProduct launchBackground
The brewery extended its leading bitter brand into the alcohol-free beer segment.
Action taken
Sharp's launched Doom Bar Zero in August 2020.
Aftermath
The Doom Bar portfolio gained an alcohol-free variant, although later sales or market-share effects are not established in the supplied sources.
2011
Sale of Sharp's Brewery to Molson CoorsM&ABackground
Doom Bar had become the brewery's dominant commercial brand and attracted interest from a major international brewer.
Action taken
Molson Coors acquired Sharp's Brewery for £20 million on 2 February 2011.
Aftermath
Sharp's entered the Molson Coors portfolio, with cask production remaining associated with Rock and broader distribution becoming available through the parent company.
Acquisition price. £20 million (2011)
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
Sharp's Brewery and Padstow Cheese Company collaborate on 50 Jack cheese[2]
Reported:
Sharp's Brewery supplied Sea Fury ale for Padstow Cheese Company to use in making 50 Jack, a cheese brined and washed with the beer. The product was available at delis and farm-shop cheese counters in Cornwall and Devon.
Sources2 sources
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