Marble Brewery

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The Marble Brewery is microbrewery in Manchester, England which makes real ales from only organic and vegetarian ingredients.

The brewery consists of a five barrel plant, designed and installed by Brendan Dobbin, former proprietor of the West Coast Brewing Company, Manchester. The copper and hot liquor tank are situated in the back of the Marble Arch pub behind glass observation windows. The fermenters and conditioning tanks are in the cellars. There are four fermenters with space for seven. The plant took two weeks to install and about a month for the building work to be completed.

The chief brewer (as of 2006) is James Campbell[1]. Previous brewers include Mark Dade and Phil Little.[1]

Contents

[edit] Beers

In 2000 the beers became strictly organic and later the same year they became strictly vegan. Marble's ingredients are sourced from non-intensive agriculture and they do not use isinglass finings, usually made from the swim bladder of the sturgeon, to clear the beer. Despite this the beer is seldom cloudy, and is occasionally enviably clear.[citation needed] Marble's head brewer, James Campbell, says "We're busier than ever. The beer sells because it tastes good, but the vegetarian side is proving good for business. I've had people tell me that they hadn't been able to drink a pint of beer since they became vegetarians 10 years before. Then they found us."[2]

The original intention was not to brew anything at less than 4% ABV, although there are now several exceptions to this, with 3.8% being the lowest strength available.

[edit] List of beers brewed

Current (2006) and previous beers include[1][3]

  • Uncut Amber 4.7%,
  • Campbell Tawny 4.5%[1], (special for August 2006).
  • Chocolate 5.5%, (seasonal for Winter)
  • Chorlton Bitter 3.8%, discontinued.
  • Chorlton Cum Hazy 3.8%, irregular.
  • Cloudy Marble 4.0%, irregular.
  • Dade's Bitter 3.8%, discontinued.
  • Dobber Strong 6.5%, discontinued.
  • Driscoll Tawny, 3.8%[1] (special for August 2006).
  • Festival, 4.4%, (Originally brewed for the Manchester Food and Drink festival 2005)
  • Ginger Beer 6.0% discontinued.
  • Ginger Marble 4.5%, regular - Nominated for 2006 'Best Vegetarian Pint' by The Vegetarian Society
  • Gould Street Bitter*(G.S.B.) 3.8%, regular
  • Lagonda IPA 5.2%, regular.
  • Liberty IPA 4.6%, discontinued.
  • Manchester Bitter 4.2%, regular.
  • Marble Bitter 3.9%, irregular.
  • Marble Chocolate Heavy 5.5%, irregular.
  • McKenna's Revenge Porter 5.0% discontinued.
  • mcKenna's Reprise Porter 4.5% seasonal
  • Northern Quarter (also known as N/4 Bitter) 3.8% discontinued.
  • Old Lag 5.0% discontinued.
  • Organic Festival Ale 4.0%, discontinued
  • Port Stout 4.7%, Christmas Seasonal
  • Road Rider 4.3%, irregular.
  • Short Back & Sides* 3.8%, discontinued.
  • Spooky Marble 3.8% - Brewed for Halloween 1998, discontinued.
  • Stoneham Lager 4.4%, discontinued.
  • Stronge Tawny 5.7%[1] (special for August 2006).
  • Summer Marble 4.5%, seasonal.
  • Totally Marbled 5.0%, discontinued.
  • Uncut Amber 4.7%, irregular.
  • Wee Star 9.0%, discontinued.

[edit] Associated public houses

[edit] Marble Arch Inn, Manchester

The Marble Arch was built in 1888 in Ancoats, with a facade of polished red granite.[4] It became a Grade II Listed Building on 20th June, 1998.[5][6] Inside, the pub has a high, glazed ceiling, ceramic walls and a bar that slopes down with the hill.

After years in the hands of various breweries, it was bought by a local CAMRA member in 1984 who made it freehouse. There have been subsequent changes of ownership, and structural alterations to accommodate the brewing plant.

[edit] Marble Beer House, Chorlton-cum-Hardy

While the building itself is not as noteworthy as the Marble Arch Inn, the Marble Beer House is the second main outlet for the Marble brand of beers although it also serves other brands. In keeping with the organic and vegetarian theme, its bar snacks come from the organic Unicorn Grocery, also in Chorlton.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Smith, Steve. "Marble Festival", What's Doing, North Manchester CAMRA, August 2006.
  2. ^ Wilson, Hugh (17 January 2001). The Rise of Microbreweries. The Society of Independent Brewers. Retrieved on September 2, 2006.
  3. ^ Beermad's brewery detail: Marble. Beermad. Retrieved on September 2, 2006.
  4. ^ Manchester Plus: Links, Pictures.... ALE - Cambridge & District CAMRA Branch Newsletter. Cambridge & District CAMRA (July-August 2005). Retrieved on September 2, 2006.
  5. ^ Moss, John (14 March 2005). Manchester Listed Buildings & Ancient Monuments - 4. ManchesterUK. Papillon Graphics. Retrieved on September 2, 2006.
  6. ^ Visit To The Marble Brewery. Huddersfield and District CAMRA (1999). Retrieved on September 2, 2006.

[edit] External links

  • Home page (Currently under reconstruction.)