Beer Guide to the 1970s (part twenty-three)

Another intriguing trio of 1970s breweries today. All quite different, both in terms of scale and location.

By far the largest was Federation. Which, in terms of outlets served, was up there with the biggest regional brewers. And, given that clubs were generally larger than pubs, might have had the most output of any of them. They were the last of the club breweries to close.

Oldham, probably on account of its limited geographical distribution, tended to get forgotten about. I can't remember it having a reputation one way or the other, good or bad. Unusually for brewers in the Manchester area, it didn't produce that much cask, Which might also explain the lack of attention from CAMRA.

While to try Okell's beers, you needed to visit the Isle of Man. Which enttailed a fair amount of effort.


Northern Clubs Federation
Newcastle,
Tyne & Wear.

Founded:    1919
Closed:            2010
Tied houses:    900 clubs (not owned)

One of the club breweries founded in the aftermath of WW I. They were notable for being the only brewer to publish the gravity of their beers. Mostly supplying clubs, the beer was usually in tank form. I never got to try it myself. They sold most beer in the Norttheast, but also supplied clubs in Lancashire, Yorkshire and, weirdly, Coventry and Cornwall. A new brewery was built South of the Tyne in Dunston in 1980. Scottish & Newcastle bought them in 2004. They were shut by Heineken in 2010.

beer	style	format	OG	description
Federation Pale Ale	Pale Ale	tank	1032	well-flavoured
Federation Special Ale	Pale Ale	tank	1041	well-flavoured
Federation Pale Ale	Pale Ale	keg		well-flavoured
Federation Special Ale	Pale Ale	keg		well-flavoured
Special Ale	Pale Ale	bottled	1041
Export	Pale Ale	bottled	1046
Light Brown Ale	Brown Ale	bottled	1032
Strong Brown Ale	Brown Ale	bottled	1047
Sweet Stout	Stout	bottled	1044

Okell
Douglas,
Isle of Man.

Founded:    1850
Closed:            still open
Tied houses:    80

The larger of the two Isle of Man breweries, Okell had tied houses spread across the whole island. I can’t remember their beers ever making it to the mainland. And never tried then myself, not having visited the Isle of Man. It merged with Castletown, the other local brewer, in 1986, forming Isle of Man Breweries.

beer	style	format	OG	description
Bitter	Pale Ale	draught	1035.9	good hopping rate
Mild	Mild	draught	1035.2	Dark Mild
Falcon Keg Bitter	Pale Ale	keg
Falcon Pale Ale	Pale Ale	bottled
Falcon Nut Brown Ale	Brown Ale	bottled		medium sweet
Falcon No. 1 Strong Ale	Barley Wine	bottled

Oldham
Oldham,
Greater Manchester.

Founded:    1868
Closed:            1988
Tied houses:    100

Oldham was one of the smaller regional brewers in the Manchester area. Most of their pubs were either in Oldham itself or a few miles from it. With a couple in neighbouring towns. Quite a lot of the beer was sold in tank form and only about 25% selling cask. I can’t remember seeing the beer at beer festivals. I only ever drank it on a daytrip to Oldham with my mate Simon. I thought they were perfectly OK beers. Purchased by Boddingon in 1982 and closed a few years later.

beer	style	format	OG	description
Bitter	Pale Ale	draught	1037.2	well hopped
Mild	Mild	draught	1031.7	medium sweet Dark Mild
Bitter	Pale Ale	keg	1037.2
Mild	Mild	keg	1031.7
Rheingold	Lager	keg	1035
Pale Ale	Pale Ale	bottled
Brown Ale	Brown Ale	bottled
Old Tom	Old Ale	bottled		strong and dark
Oldham Stout	Stout	bottled		medium sweet