Suffolk Tourist Guide - Articles
Suffolk Breweries and Beer
Suffolk Breweries and Beer
Although Suffolk was not historically a prolific brewing county, we are, since the takeover of Scottish & Newcastle by the Danes, the county with two of the UK's largest remaining brewers, Greene King and Adnams. Suffolk is also home to lots of smaller breweries whose styles range from the solidly traditional Bitters and Milds (one of the last bastions in southern England of this threatened style), through to exotic beers made with wheat, fruit and spices. So find out here which one is to your taste -
ADNAMS, Southwold
This is a highly successful, traditional brewing company, set in the lovely seaside town of Southwold. Still Chaired by one of the Adnams family, the Company was established in 1890 and last year moved into a new multi-million pound, state-of-the-art brewery in Southwold. Adnams brews a distinctive range of authentic beers from the finest of ingredients. Each has its own fresh, unique and vibrant character that will appeal to the most discerning drinkers – drinkers who cherish individuality and seek out brands with personality and style. These beers are popular throughout the country in free pubs, and range from -
Mild, Bitter, Extra, Broadside, and Seasonal Ales such as Barley Mow, Old Ale, Mayday, Tally Ho..... and the latest brew, Adnams Explorer.
They also run their own pubs as well as two lovely Hotels in Southwold (see Crown Hotel and The Swan Hotel), and have recently branched out with kitchenware and wine with their highly successful Cellar and Kitchen Stores
Find out more about Adnams and where you can visit their pubs at Adnams, Beers from the Coast
Suffolk Breweries and Beer
The Earl Soham Brewery (ESB) had been brewing in Maurice’s old chicken shed behind the Vic since 1985. In 2000 ESB bought a bigger shed, the Old Forge building opposite the village green. With the help of old friends, the shed was turned into a brewery and it finally became productive in May 2001. We haven't looked back since!
Our oldest established beer is VICTORIA BITTER (1.037osg 3.6abv (3.6%))
It's available all the year round and is a light, hoppy and bitter. Brewed using a standard pale malt and crystal malt mix with Goldings and Fuggles hops.
We also brew at least 7 other Ales, as well as Specials. We also have a special, convenient brew - What we brew is real beer, live beer. When we supply the beer the yeasts are still working and there are sediments in the barrel. For the beer to serve well and bright the barrel must be left to stand so the sediments can settle. If the barrel is knocked after it has stood the beer may again serve cloudy and not at its best.
All very inconvenient for the party giver ... but ESB can supply all its beers as Bright Beer. Bright Beer has no sediment and is ready to serve. What's more it can take a few knocks during the Gentlemen's Excuse Me. The price you pay is the beer remains only at its best for 24 hours. Over a long holiday like Christmas you may be better off with our traditional beer.
To find out more about our beers and which one is right for you, call us now on 01728 684097 or visit our website - Earl Soham Brewery
Click here for Pubs in Suffolk where you can enjoy these locally brewed beers!
Suffolk Breweries and Beer
Susie and Nigel are the new owners of The Kings Head, Bildeston, a 15th Century Free House with its own micro-brewery located in the old stables at the back of the pub. Both of us are real ale enthusiasts, active members of CAMRA and have been brewing real ale at home from the grain (not kits) for several years. We are looking forward to taking over the pub and brewery and plan to increase production to at least the previous levels, as demand dictates. This will take a little time as we are newcomers to the licensed trade and brewing industries and we've jujst had a baby! When we get ourselves established we will introduce our own recipes and will also investigate the bottle conditioned and organic real ale markets - so watch this space!
The brewery is capable of producing 4 barrels (144 gallons) of real ale each run. Malted grain is supplied by Muntons a few miles away in Stowmarket (http://www.muntons.com/), whilst the hops are sourced from various suppliers as required by each recipe.
The brewery was built and started brewing in 1995 by the current owner Kevin Harrison. Brewing has since been carried out by Kevin's wife Jayne who has a background in chemistry. The brewery has supplied several other pubs and numerous beer festivals. Two of the beers have won awards at the Ipswich CAMRA Beer Festival.
Due to Kevin & Jayne's imminent retirement and other work commitments the brewery currently runs fortnightly and supplies just the Kings Head, the occasional beer swap with another member of the East Anglian Brewing Cooperative (http://www.eastanglianbrewers.com/) and it's own annual beer festival in May, the late spring bank holiday.
Beers Brewed by The Kings Head Brewery:
Best Bitter 3.8%, Blondie 4.0%, First Gold 4.3%, Apache 4.5%, Billy 4.8%, J.J.'s Lemon Bitter 5.0%, Crowdie 5.0% & Dark Vader 5.4%.
Dark Vader was Overall Champion Beer, Ipswich Beer Festival 2000.
J.J.'s Lemon Bitter was Campion Beer of Class, Ipswich Beer Festival 2001.
Bottle conditioned beers:
Blondie, Apache, Crowdie & Dark Vader.
Tours of the brewery can be arranged by phoning 01449 741434.
More information on Suffolk Breweries and Beer coming soon!
Although Suffolk was not historically a prolific brewing county, we are, since the takeover of Scottish & Newcastle by the Danes, the county with two of the UK's largest remaining brewers, Greene King and Adnams. Suffolk is also home to lots of smaller breweries whose styles range from the solidly traditional Bitters and Milds (one of the last bastions in southern England of this threatened style), through to exotic beers made with wheat, fruit and spices. So find out here which one is to your taste -
ADNAMS, Southwold
This is a highly successful, traditional brewing company, set in the lovely seaside town of Southwold. Still Chaired by one of the Adnams family, the Company was established in 1890 and last year moved into a new multi-million pound, state-of-the-art brewery in Southwold. Adnams brews a distinctive range of authentic beers from the finest of ingredients. Each has its own fresh, unique and vibrant character that will appeal to the most discerning drinkers – drinkers who cherish individuality and seek out brands with personality and style. These beers are popular throughout the country in free pubs, and range from -
Mild, Bitter, Extra, Broadside, and Seasonal Ales such as Barley Mow, Old Ale, Mayday, Tally Ho..... and the latest brew, Adnams Explorer.
They also run their own pubs as well as two lovely Hotels in Southwold (see Crown Hotel and The Swan Hotel), and have recently branched out with kitchenware and wine with their highly successful Cellar and Kitchen Stores
Find out more about Adnams and where you can visit their pubs at Adnams, Beers from the Coast
Suffolk Breweries and Beer
The Earl Soham Brewery (ESB) had been brewing in Maurice’s old chicken shed behind the Vic since 1985. In 2000 ESB bought a bigger shed, the Old Forge building opposite the village green. With the help of old friends, the shed was turned into a brewery and it finally became productive in May 2001. We haven't looked back since!
Our oldest established beer is VICTORIA BITTER (1.037osg 3.6abv (3.6%))
It's available all the year round and is a light, hoppy and bitter. Brewed using a standard pale malt and crystal malt mix with Goldings and Fuggles hops.
We also brew at least 7 other Ales, as well as Specials. We also have a special, convenient brew - What we brew is real beer, live beer. When we supply the beer the yeasts are still working and there are sediments in the barrel. For the beer to serve well and bright the barrel must be left to stand so the sediments can settle. If the barrel is knocked after it has stood the beer may again serve cloudy and not at its best.
All very inconvenient for the party giver ... but ESB can supply all its beers as Bright Beer. Bright Beer has no sediment and is ready to serve. What's more it can take a few knocks during the Gentlemen's Excuse Me. The price you pay is the beer remains only at its best for 24 hours. Over a long holiday like Christmas you may be better off with our traditional beer.
To find out more about our beers and which one is right for you, call us now on 01728 684097 or visit our website - Earl Soham Brewery
Click here for Pubs in Suffolk where you can enjoy these locally brewed beers!
Suffolk Breweries and Beer
Susie and Nigel are the new owners of The Kings Head, Bildeston, a 15th Century Free House with its own micro-brewery located in the old stables at the back of the pub. Both of us are real ale enthusiasts, active members of CAMRA and have been brewing real ale at home from the grain (not kits) for several years. We are looking forward to taking over the pub and brewery and plan to increase production to at least the previous levels, as demand dictates. This will take a little time as we are newcomers to the licensed trade and brewing industries and we've jujst had a baby! When we get ourselves established we will introduce our own recipes and will also investigate the bottle conditioned and organic real ale markets - so watch this space!
The brewery is capable of producing 4 barrels (144 gallons) of real ale each run. Malted grain is supplied by Muntons a few miles away in Stowmarket (http://www.muntons.com/), whilst the hops are sourced from various suppliers as required by each recipe.
The brewery was built and started brewing in 1995 by the current owner Kevin Harrison. Brewing has since been carried out by Kevin's wife Jayne who has a background in chemistry. The brewery has supplied several other pubs and numerous beer festivals. Two of the beers have won awards at the Ipswich CAMRA Beer Festival.
Due to Kevin & Jayne's imminent retirement and other work commitments the brewery currently runs fortnightly and supplies just the Kings Head, the occasional beer swap with another member of the East Anglian Brewing Cooperative (http://www.eastanglianbrewers.com/) and it's own annual beer festival in May, the late spring bank holiday.
Beers Brewed by The Kings Head Brewery:
Best Bitter 3.8%, Blondie 4.0%, First Gold 4.3%, Apache 4.5%, Billy 4.8%, J.J.'s Lemon Bitter 5.0%, Crowdie 5.0% & Dark Vader 5.4%.
Dark Vader was Overall Champion Beer, Ipswich Beer Festival 2000.
J.J.'s Lemon Bitter was Campion Beer of Class, Ipswich Beer Festival 2001.
Bottle conditioned beers:
Blondie, Apache, Crowdie & Dark Vader.
Tours of the brewery can be arranged by phoning 01449 741434.
More information on Suffolk Breweries and Beer coming soon!