Milltown Brewery

The smell hits you first when you walk into Milltown Brewery near Elland - that unmistakable blend of malt and hops that tells you something proper is being made here. This is a working brewery where you can actually watch the process happen, from grain to glass, rather than just stare at sanitised displays.

They run tours and tastings, though you'll want to check their website for exact times and what's on offer that day. The crew know their stuff and aren't precious about it - you'll get genuine chat about their process rather than corporate spiel. If you're staying at one of the nearby parks like Elland Hall Farm or Holme Valley, it's within striking distance for a half-day trip.

It works best for adults who actually care about how beer gets made. Kids will find the first ten minutes interesting, then get restless. The space is industrial rather than Instagram-pretty, which some find refreshing and others find a bit sparse. Families with teenagers keen on food production or sustainability might get more from it than casual tourists.

Allow a couple of hours if you're doing a tour and tasting, less if you're just popping in to buy bottles. Worth ringing ahead to see what's happening when you visit - brewery schedules can be unpredictable. The beer itself is solid West Yorkshire craft stuff, worth trying before you decide whether to stock up your caravan. Not a place to take the kids to burn energy, but spot-on if you're after a genuine look at how the stuff you're drinking actually gets made.