Kirkstall Brewery Refreshes Its Cask Brand Identity
Kirkstall Brewery is launching new branding for its core cask brands, drawing upon the brewery’s heritage and the iconic THREE SWORDS symbol.
The new pump clips have a unique shape crafted from premium materials to reflect the quality and traditional values of the beers.
The refreshed branding has been designed to highlight Kirkstall's presence in an ever more competitive market, both in its heartland of Yorkshire and nationwide.
“Cask beer is our lifeblood, and how we started as a business,” said founder and director Steve Holt. “Many of these brands - Three Swords, Dissolution IPA and Black Band Porter - have been with us from the very beginning. We have always sought to give credit to our predecessors, so it is fitting for us to pay homage to the 19th century branding used by our forebears."
The latest Three Swords pump clip design is based on historic branding taken from an original Victorian Kirkstall Brewery showcard. It has been so well received by both the trade and consumers that it has now been extended to the rest of the core range. Dissolution IPA, Black Band Porter, Kirkstall Bitter, Kirkstall Pale and Kirkstall Blonde now feature the original crest heraldry as well as metallic and gloss finishes.
“Bringing together such a wide range of beers under a single cohesive brand was a huge challenge,” said Chris Hall, Kirkstall’s Brand Manager. “After updating the Three Swords branding last year, we realised it provided the framework for a diverse brand identity with one unifying story: heritage, consistently great beer and the Three Swords crest – all things that we are widely recognised for.”
The Three Swords crest, used by the Kirkstall Brewery Co of 1833-1983, was previously used in the masonry of Kirkstall Abbey, where Cistercian monks brewed beer since 1152.
“The Three Swords symbol precedes any other beer trademark and is the most important part of our story and our identity,” added Hall. “Three Swords is also our hero cask brand, and it now leads an ensemble cast of beers that celebrate heritage, stand for quality, and belong together on bars across the nation.”
NOTES FOR EDITORS:
ABOUT KIRKSTALL BREWERY
Kirkstall Brewery continues a legacy of brewing left by the Cistercian monks of Kirkstall Abbey and the Kirkstall Brewery Company of 1833-1983. Kirkstall’s own beginnings as Vertical Drinks, importing the likes of Sierra Nevada, Odell and Stone since 2003, allowed them to learn from the masters before starting their own brewery in 2011.
Alongside its most famous beers, such as Virtuous Session IPA and Three Swords Extra Pale, Kirkstall also brews a series of Prize Ales exploring the brewery’s rich history, including some recipes that are over 130 years old.
As well as the Taproom & Kitchen at the brewery itself, Kirkstall operates several award-winning pubs across Leeds and West Yorkshire, including the historic Kirkstall Bridge Inn, the Grade II-listed Cardigan Arms and The Three Swords in Horsforth.
In 2024, Kirkstall reopened The Tetley building as a “landmark of Yorkshire beer culture”, showcasing the very best of beer from Leeds and the region, alongside a wealth of historic brewery artefacts from Steve Holt’s personal collection.
In 2025, Kirkstall refurbished and re-opened The Victoria & Commercial in Leeds city centre with the team behind Whitelock’s Ale House.
Kirkstall also runs several highly regarded and well-loved local beer festivals, including The Great Exhibition of Prize Ales, its own Oktoberfest, and has substantial involvement in organising Leeds International Beer Festival.
For further information please contact Chris Hall via chrishall@kirkstallbrewery.com.
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