Worthington Brewery

The Worthington Brewery (Worthington & Co.) was founded by William Worthington in 1761.

History

The Worthington Brewery was founded in 1761 by William Worthington, although William had brewed his first ale in 1744.^[1] WH Worthington pioneered brewing science in 1866 by employing a chemist, Horace Tabberer, who lead the world in separation and cultivation of pure yeast strains.^[1] In 1880 it was the 'largest pale ale brewery in the hands of a single family'.^[2] In 1927 the brewery merged with arch rivals Bass, although continued to operate independently.^[1] Worthington continued to brew their own beer, overtaking Bass in sales by 1957/58. In 1967 the brewery was closed and subsequently demolished but brewing of Worthington's bitter continued. Bass had decided to discontinue Worthington White Shield in 1997, but protests from lovers of the beer allowed it to survive.^[3] Worthington's is the twelfth highest selling beer brand in the United Kingdom, with over 650,000 hectolitres sold in 2011, and is the UK's third most popular ale brand after John Smith's and Tetley's.^[4] It is the highest selling ale brand in Wales.^[5] It is currently owned by the global brewer Molson Coors. In December 2010, the new £1 million 'William Worthington's Brewery' microbrewery was opened by Molson Coors in Burton upon Trent.^[6] It will produce White Shield, Red Shield and seasonal beers.^[6] The brewery is housed in a listed building at the National Brewing Centre.^[6]

Beers

• Worthington's Creamflow (3.6% ABV) is a nitrogenated and pasteurised ale launched in 1995 and available in kegs and cans.^[7] Its aroma is described as 'malt, liquorice and caramel, with apple and banana notes'.^[8]
• Worthington's Classic (3.8% ABV) is a non-nitrogenated pasteurised keg ale introduced in 2002.^[8][9]
• Worthington's Ale (4% ABV) is a pasteurised keg ale specially brewed for the Teesside market, where they like their beer dark and strong.^[8][10] In the past it has been contract brewed by Camerons Brewery in Hartlepool, it is not known if this remains the case.
• Worthington's Cask (3.6% ABV) is a cask conditioned bitter which is currently contract brewed by Everards of Leicester.^[11] It is brewed with pale malt and Challenger and Northdown hops.^[12]
• William Worthington's White Shield (5.6% ABV) is the oldest surving India Pale Ale, dating back to 1829.^[13] It is available bottle conditioned and in casks.^[8] Its taste is described as 'full flavoured with bold notes of malt and toffee. Complex fermented characters are dominated by fruit and higher alcohols resulting in a powerful hoppiness and a long, bittersweet finish.^[8] From 2000 it has been brewed in small quantities at Coors' microbrewery in Burton upon Trent but production is now at William Worthington's Brewery, also in Burton.^[1] It has won the CAMRA Champion Bottled Beer of Britain award seven times and in 2003 won Gold at the International Beer Competition.^[1][8] It is made using pale and crystal malt, Fuggle, Challenger and Northdown hops.^[14] Among its fans was the inventor Percy Shaw, who always kept his cellar well stocked with crates of his favourite beer.^[15] In 1982, along with Guinness Extra Stout, it was the only nationally available bottle conditioned beer in the UK
• William Worthington's Red Shield (4.2% ABV). A cask conditioned version of White Shield launched in August 2010, made from Brambling Cross and Cascade hops.^[8][16]
• Worthington E (4.8% ABV). A cask and bottle conditioned beer that has been produced in small amounts.

Cask conditioned Worthington Dark at mild ale at 3 per cent ABV was available until 1999.^[17] It was brewed in Bass' Cardiff brewery largely for the South Wales market, but it was discontinued when that brewery was closed.^[18]

Sponsorship

Worthngton's is a major sponsor of rugby union and rugby league.^[8] It is the official beer of Gloucester RFC, Saracens FC, Newport Gwent Dragons, Ospreys and Oldham Roughyeds.^[8][19] From 1998 until 2003 it sponsored the Football League Cup.

See also

• Brewers of Burton

References

Bibliography

• Barbar, Norman (2005). Century of British Brewers Plus. New Ash Green, Kent: Brewery History Society. ISBN 1873966113. 

External links

• Worthington's White Shield Heritage