Beer Guide to the 1970s (part thirty)

An unusual trio this time out. As all are still very much in operation.

Two brewers from Yorkshire who, despite their small number of pubs, managed to achieve national fame. The other, the last survivor of the decent-sized breweries who once called Blackburn their home. All three had a good reputation for their beers  in the 1970s. And mostly still do.


Timothy Taylor
Keighley,
Yorkshire.

Founded:    1858
Closed:            still open
Tied houses:    28

One of only a handful of surviving small breweries in Yorkshire, Timothy Taylor was, just as today, well-loved. Their small tied estate was mostly concentrated in Keighley and the surrounding area. I was really excited when they were one of the first to reintroduce Porter. Only to be incredibly disappointed by beer which was far too sweet. Unsurprisingly, as it turned out to be based on a Sweet Stout recipe.

beer	style	format	OG	description
Best Bitter	Pale Ale	draught	1037.1	pleasant
Golden Best/Bitter	Mild	draught	1033.4	Light Mild
Landlord	Pale Ale	draught	1042	full-bodied
Mild	Mild	draught	1033.4	Dark Mild
Ram Tam	Old Ale	draught	1042	Landlord with caramel
Porter	Porter	draught	1043	Disappointingly sweet
Special Pale Ale	Pale Ale	bottled
Blue Label	Pale Ale	bottled
Landlord	Pale Ale	bottled
Northerner No. 1	Brown Ale	bottled		dark
Black Bess	Stout	bottled	1043	medium sweet

Theakston
Masham,
Yorkshire.

Founded:    1827
Closed:            still open
Tied houses:    16

A very small rural brewery, Theakston gained national recognition through Old Peculier, which was an early cult classic cask beer. Which prompted them to buy the former Carlisle State brewery. A much larger plant than their original brewery. They were bought by in 1984 Matthew Brown, who were in turn purchased by Scottish and Newcastle in 1987. Returned to the ownership of the Theakston family in 2003.

beer	style	format	OG	description
Best Bitter	Pale Ale	draught	1038
Old Peculier	Old Ale	draught	1060.3
Light Mild	Mild	draught	1032.5	Light Mild
Dark Mild	Mild	draught	1032.5	Dark Mild
Pale Ale	Pale Ale	bottled	1031.5
Export	Pale Ale	bottled		darker and stronger
Old Peculier	Old Ale	bottled
Brown Ale	Brown Ale	bottled	1031.2	medium sweet

Thwaites
Blackburn,
Lancashire.

Founded:    1807
Closed:            still open
Tied houses:    380

Blackburn was lucky enough to have two major regional breweries in Thwaites and Matthew Brown. As well as a Whitbread plant, the former Duttons brewery. Thwaites was one of the few brewers still making both Mild and Best Mild. The latter being very highly regarded. With good reason, as it was excellent.

beer	style	format	OG	description
Bitter	Pale Ale	draught	1036	distinctive flavour
Mild	Mild	draught	1031	darkish Mild of the Lancashire type
Best Mild	Mild	draught	1033	sweeter
Starkeg	Pale Ale	keg	1036	keg Bitter
Dannykeg	Mild	keg	1033	keg Best Mild
East Lancs	Pale Ale	bottled
Big Ben	Old Ale	bottled		strong dark beer
Old Dan Nips	Barley Wine	bottled	1074.6	extra strong dark beer
Green Top	Brown Ale	bottled
Danny Brown	Brown Ale	bottled		sweet Brown Ale