An interesting trio of breweries today. One of which is even still operating today. The others are long gone. And I never got to try either of their beers. One closed too long ago. And one was too physically remote.
Sometime in the mid-1970s, What's Brewing printed the gravities of beers they'd had analysed. Not just cask beers, importantly. I'd love to get my hands on it. Does anyone know where I might be able to find it?
CameronHartlepool,
County Durham.
Founded: 1852
Closed: still open
Tied houses: 700
Cameron was one of the largest independent breweries in Northeast England. They were well-represented throughout the region, stretching as far south of Yorkshire. It's a rare survivor of brewers of this size.
beer |
style |
format |
OG |
description |
Best Bitter |
Pale Ale |
draught |
1036 |
well-balanced |
Strongarm |
Pale Ale |
draught |
1042 |
not sweet |
Mild |
Mild |
draught |
1033 |
Dark Mild |
Tartan Keg |
Pale Ale |
keg |
|
|
Icegold
Lager |
Lager |
keg |
1038.4 |
|
Special
Light Ale |
Pale Ale |
bottled |
|
|
Export Ale |
Pale Ale |
bottled |
|
|
Strongarm |
Pale Ale |
bottled |
|
|
Old Scranton
Barley Wine |
Barley Wine |
bottled |
|
|
Special
Brown Ale |
Brown Ale |
bottled |
|
|
Carlisle State Management
Carlisle,
Cumbria.
Founded: 1756
Closed: 1984
Tied houses: 170
Now here’s an oddity: a state-owned brewery. During WW I, there was concern about the workers who had moved into the town to work in the munitions factories were drinking too much. In reaction, the drinks trade in the town was nationalised. Two of the three breweries were closed and all the pubs served from the one that remained.
In the early 1970s, the Conservative government decided to privatise it in the most stupid way possible, first selling the pubs, then trying to offload the brewery. Surprisingly, they did manage to sell the brewery to Theakston in 1974. Who used it to brew Theakston Bitter for the free trade. The brewery closed after Theakston was acquired by Matthew Bbrown in 1984.
beer |
style |
format |
OG |
description |
Bitter |
Pale Ale |
draught |
1036.3 |
well-balanced |
Mild |
Mild |
draught |
1033 |
Dark Mild |
Bitter |
Pale Ale |
keg |
1036.6 |
well-balanced |
Mild |
Mild |
keg |
|
Dark Mild |
Light Ale |
Pale Ale |
bottled |
|
|
Nut Brown
Ale |
Brown Ale |
bottled |
|
|
Export |
Pale Ale |
bottled |
|
|
Castletown
Castletown,
Isle of Man.
Founded: 1860
Closed: 1986
Tied houses: 36
One of two breweries on the island, Castletown operated under different legislation to the mainland UK. Brewers had to stick to the pre-1880 rules. That is, only malt, hops, sugar and water were allowed. No adjuncts. Castletown beers weren’t regularly available outside the island. In 1986 they merged with Okell, the other local brewer, and were closed.
beer |
style |
format |
OG |
description |
Bitter |
Pale Ale |
draught |
1036 |
well-balanced |
Mild |
Mild |
draught |
1036 |
Light Mild |
Pale Ale |
Pale Ale |
bottled |
|
|
Nut Brown
Ale |
Brown Ale |
bottled |
|
medium sweet |
Liqueur
Barley Wine |
Barley Wine |
bottled |
|
|
Jubilee
Stout |
Stout |
bottled |
|
brewed under licence
from Bass Charrington |