A new era in Kent as Curious Brewery moves forward
New menu, new brand and new awards for Ashford-based brewery
A few years ago, Curious Brewery (@curiousbrewery ) felt like one of Kent’s best-kept secrets, a beautifully designed brewery just minutes from Ashford International Station, quietly doing something different. Now, it feels like the secret is out.
What’s changed isn’t just visibility, it’s confidence. Curious has moved from being an interesting concept to a fully formed, modern drinks brand with a clear point of view: beer can be as refined, considered, and food-led as wine.
At the centre of that shift is Curious Brew, a lager that has always done things differently. Re-fermented with Champagne yeast, it delivers a cleaner, drier, more structured finish than most, something that sets it apart in a category that often leans towards the familiar. That difference is now being recognised at the highest level. At the 2026 London Beer Competition, Curious Brew was awarded International Lager of the Year and Beer of the Year (UK), both with Double Gold medals. It’s the kind of accolade that carries real weight, judged not just on taste, but also on value and shelf appeal.
June marks the next step in that evolution, with a full brand refresh rolling out across the Curious range. The direction is clear: cleaner, more confident, and more in tune with how the brand is now positioned. The updated identity leans further into its wine-inspired heritage, moving away from traditional craft cues and towards a more contemporary, premium feel. It’s not a reinvention, but a refinement, bringing the look and feel of the brand in line with the quality of what’s in the glass.
That same sense of progression is evident at the brewery itself. What was a place you might visit once, a tour, a drink, a look around, has become somewhere people return to. There’s a rhythm to it now. Weekday lunches, weekend meet-ups, casual drinks that turn into dinner. It feels lived-in, and increasingly, it feels like a proper hospitality destination.
The restaurant is at the heart of that shift. During the past year, it has grown into a more defined, seasonal, produce-led offer that understands how to work with beer. Pairing isn’t treated as an afterthought. Dishes are built to complement the range, whether that’s a crisp lager, a structured cider, or something lighter and more aromatic.
The menu has a noticeable move towards lighter plates, sharing dishes and more flexible dining. You’ll still find elevated takes on classics, but the overall feel is more contemporary, something that works just as well for a quick lunch as it does for a longer, more considered meal.
The brand has also been adapting to how people drink today. The move into cans has made the range more accessible for at-home occasions, while a more design-led identity, soon to be fully realised with the June refresh, ensures it stands out in increasingly competitive retail environments. The focus feels deliberate: less about chasing volume, more about being present in the right places, in the right way.
For all the progress, what makes Curious stand out hasn’t really changed. There’s still that winemaking influence, not overplayed, but evident in the balance, restraint and food-friendly nature of the range. There’s still a strong connection to Kent, both in sourcing and in spirit.
Curious Brewery feels different in 2026, not because it has changed direction, but because it has grown into its original idea. It’s a brand hitting its stride.
