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Burton Union Systems may be expensive to run, outdated, maintenance heavy and inefficient, but the recent decision by Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC) to retire the remaining four sets at their Albion Brewery on Shobnall Road in Burton upon Trent has been steeped in controversy, as it marks the end of a chapter in Burton’s brewing history that stretches back to the mid-1800s.

In simplistic terms the Burton Union System is a method of fermentation that takes place in an interconnected series of paired barrels, swan neck pipes allow the yeast to feed into a trough above where it is retained, and clear beer can run back into the barrels. It was once the predominant method of fermentation in Burton in the 1880s and 1890s, back when it was the Brewing Capital of the World: Bass had them, as did all the other big breweries: Allsopp, Truman, Hanbury & Buxton, Worthington, Ind Coope, Eadie, Andrew Barclay Walker … and of course The Trustees of the Late Peter Walker on Clarence Street, the man that history records as inventing, or at least patenting, an early version of the Burton Union System in 1838.

Over the years the Burton Union System was deemed no longer viable and confined to the scrap heap, or in the case of Bass, the carpark of the now defunct National Brewery Centre on Guild Street. Ind Coope and Allsopp decommissioned theirs in 1959, Trumans closed their Burton brewery in 1971 and with it went their Unions. The last mash took place at Bass No.2 Brewery (formerly the New Brewery) on 16th August 1982, the Union System was then abandoned, leaving one brewer committed to their use Marston, Thompson & Evershed.

Ever since then the various incarnations of Marston’s have been proud of their Union Room, calling it the “Cathedral of Brewing.” In 1991 their commitment expanded with the installation of more Unions. “No Burton Union. No Pedigree. End of.” Not my words but those on marstonsbrewery.co.uk.

Marston’s premium bitter Pedigree has had a long association with the Burton Unions. Originally called P or P Quality, a competition took place in 1952 to rename the beer and the moniker Pedigree was chosen. By the 1980s it was marketed as “The King of Bitters” albeit one that ruled locally as Pedigree was a notoriously bad traveller, I remember being told that if it’s journey was broken up more than twice the flavour would be affected. I started drinking Pedigree in the mid-80s (it was my first legal pint) when it possessed the Burton Snatch, a massive sulphurous smell that was popular in Burton but not so suited for the rest of the country. Pedigree was marketed on TV in 1995 and the brand became a national concern but with this the recipe was toned down for the wider palette and the beer was never quite the same again. But it was still brewed in Burton Unions.

The last decent pint I had was in the summer of 2016, by which time it had been rebranded from a Pale to an Amber Ale. I’d been shown around the brewery as I was writing a book and ended up in the now closed Visitors’ Centre for refreshment. I was assured at the time every single drop of cask Pedigree was Union brewed but since then, I couldn’t say. For research purposes I tried a Pedigree a few days ago and it was that bland I left half of it. Since the formation of CMBC in 2020 I’ve read comments that I cannot substantiate that Pedigree has been brewed at Wolverhampton and that the cask version has been blended with beer brewed in Squares, all I know is it isn’t the beer I used to love so maybe it’ll be impossible to tell that it’s not Union brewed.

Why the fuss about the retiring of the Burton Union System at Marston’s? These are not just any old Burton Union Sets, these are the last working sets not only in Burton, but the world. Now let that sink in for a moment. We are talking about a pivotal moment in world brewing history; if the Burton Union System was an animal, it would have been protected under law.

Over the last decade I have grown tired of using the word “tragically” when referring to Burton’s brewing history and it hasn’t escaped me that I am writing in what will probably be the end times. In the last eighteen months we’ve lost the National Brewery Centre, Worthington White Shield and now this and that is the problem when foreign companies buy into our industry, they may pay lip service to the importance of our history but ultimately it isn’t theirs and money talks louder. Granted there are easier ways to brew than the Burton Union System, but for the sake of tradition it should continue, I see no sense in stopping a process that is the last remaining example in the entire world, surely this should be a cherished asset and not something to be disposed of because the accountants deem it poor value for money. This is so short-sighted that I’m contemplating booking CMBC an eye test.

Having been at Ind Coope when Carlberg merged with Allied Breweries, I witnessed their treatment of Ind Coope Draught Burton Ale, which had won CAMRA Champion Beer of Britain in 1990. Their attempt to sideline the brand and persuade drinkers that Carlsberg’s products were preferable showed a lack of understanding of the real ale market and it’s a worrying sign that nearly 30 years on, little appears to have changed. The unique selling point of Pedigree was it being the only beer to still be Burton Union brewed, take that away and the brand will likely see sales decline further before being quietly withdrawn, but hey at least we can drink Carlsberg Lager instead.

History will record that the Burton Union System was ended by CMBC and that’s not “Probably …”

There’s been something special about Burton upon Trent and beer that stretches back centuries and if the present climate is seeing breweries closing, Burton is showing signs of bucking that trend with certainly two and possibly three companies either actively searching for premises in or planning to move to the town in the near future. When picking Burton as a base, it’s not just a case of “opening a brewery”, they are choosing to add another page to the town’s unique history that has seen over 100 commercial endeavours in the last 300 odd years.

One of these hopefuls is G3 Brewery who launched their first beer at Brews of the World last weekend, it is the passion of Daryl Hollier.

“I was born in Burton Hospital and I’m still here!” says the proud Burtonian. “As far back as I can remember I’ve known Burton is a brewing town, I’ve always been very interested in the town’s heritage. Up until now I have only ever been a passionate homebrewer.”

This changed when Daryl bumped into an old friend George, fittingly in Brews of the World, and they got talking: “We both use to be drummers of local bands in Burton. George is the owner and brewer at Bluntrock in Padstow, and we spoke about my brewery plans and decided to do a collab for my first beer. I went down to Bluntrock for the brew day with George and six weeks later here we are launching G3 with an event at Brews of the World, along with a Bluntrock tap takeover and live music from local band Dirty Bomb.”

The first G3 beer is Spacetime and is described as a 5.6% New Zealand hazy craft beer but with one big difference, it is Gluten Free.

“Around ten years ago I started to develop Gluten Intolerance, which was a bummer as I’m a beer enthusiast,” confesses Daryl. Finding there was very little choice for Craft Beer he has decided to make it his mission to change that. ”I’d usually have to settle for a cider when drinking out although things have improved recently and you’re starting to see more Gluten Free beers around. Even still statistics show that only one third of pubs offer Gluten Free beer and they’re usually lagers.”

With millions of people on the UK alone living with Gluten Intolerance, it is an important issue, particularly for those who are undiagnosed.

“With intolerances it’s usually a quantity thing, I can usually get away with one normal beer without getting too many symptoms, these can vary from person to person: some minor, like bloating, indigestion, and fatigue but can also be more severe, similar to food poisoning!”

The brewing process for Gluten Free beers has improved in recent years, as Daryl explains: “It was nearly always brewed with grain alternatives, like sorghum syrup. In recent years, it has become possible to brew using the standard all-grain methods but strip the gluten out of the beer at the end of the process. This has drastically improved Gluten Free beers, making them almost indistinguishable.”

Spacetime has been brewed with all the grain you would get in a standard beer and then had the gluten removed during the brewing process. 

“It isn’t easy to find good Gluten Free craft beer. I plan on changing this by bringing hoppy and hazy Gluten Free craft beer to the market with no compromises on taste and quality.”

Anyone who drank Spacetime at Brews of the World would have been hard pressed to differentiate it from the other Hazy IPA Craft Beers on sale, so mission accomplished!

G3 will continue as a Cuckoo brewery for the time being, but there are plans to find a permanent home: “For the next beer I’m looking at either a Pale Ale or a West Coast IPA, I’m starting with collaborations and contracting, but the goal is to open my own brewery in Burton when the time is right.”

Spacetime is available in keg and you can buy cans from the web site www.g3brewery.com

The National Brewery Heritage Trust has appointed Laura Waters as Collections Officer to help them oversee the protection and preservation of the archives and artefacts which make up the National Brewery Collection, based in Burton upon Trent.

Laura has decades of experience at museums and heritage sites across the UK, including Buxton Museum and Art Gallery and the National Trust. Her immediate priorities will be overseeing the relocation of the collection, and working with East Staffordshire Borough Council (ESBC) and other stakeholders as together they shape the future vision for the National Brewery Collection. 

As part of the role, which is being funded by Molson Coors, Laura will support a team of volunteers currently working to catalogue and carefully pack all the archives before they are moved to their temporary new home, on Station Street in Burton. 

The volunteers include amateur archivists and engineers from the local area, many of whom have years of experience in maintaining historic artefacts, vehicles and brewery equipment, alongside employee volunteers from Molson Coors. 

The painstaking process of creating a comprehensive inventory of all the documents and exhibits held within the Collection has uncovered some rare items of historical interest, including volumes of journals documenting experimental brews, a photo archive including hundreds of images of Charrington & Co. pubs and a video archive of Carling TV ads.

Laura Waters said “I’m excited to be joining the National Brewery Heritage Trust at such an important time. As well as the vital work of relocating the Collection and securing its future, I’ll be working with the volunteers to ensure everything continues to be safe and well maintained. I’ll also be ensuring that the archives are accessible to the public, initially online, but then very much in person when they’re safely relocated into their temporary home in Station Street.”

Harry White, Chair of the National Brewery Heritage Trust, said: “Our charity exists to protect and preserve our unique brewing heritage. We are currently working hard on securing the future of the archives and artefacts which together make up the National Brewery Collection. We are delighted to welcome Laura to the team. She brings a level of professionalism and expertise that will be hugely valuable in the months and years ahead as we ensure the collection remains intact, in Burton and accessible to the public.”

The Trust is ensuring that the archives and artefacts are moved in line with relevant national standards.  Once packed, the items will be stored in a temporary centre being created by ESBC in Station Street, before moving to the proposed new Heritage Centre in High Street, Burton. The collection is being moved to enable the current building to be converted into a new Head Office site for Molson Coors, while its current office site is redeveloped as part of ESBC’s plans for Burton town centre.

Phil Whitehead, Managing Director for Western Europe at Molson Coors said: “We are pleased to be able to support the continued great and important work of volunteers.  We look forward to working with Laura and the National Brewery Heritage Trust and ESBC to help create a great new home for the archives and artefacts, one which celebrates our industry and which visitors from across the UK will be able to enjoy.”

The annual quest to find The Best Bass in Burton was held over the Easter weekend, with The Devonshire Arms and The Roebuck Inn being joint winners, The Constitutional Club were runners up. Last year’s event was also very close with The Roebuck Inn narrowly beating The Devonshire Arms, so it seems fitting that this time that the honours were shared.

Organiser Ian Webster was not at all surprised at the result: “Personally I couldn’t decide between The Devonshire Arms, The Roebuck Inn or The Constitutional Club! All three served what I thought was an amazing pint, true perfection in a glass. This shows not only the excellent standard of the beer, which is brewed by Carlsberg Marston’s, but also the passion and skill that goes into cellaring and serving.”

“I was convinced it’d be between The Constitutional Club and The Devonshire Arms, so I’m more flabbergasted than last time,” says Julie Latham, landlady of The Roebuck Inn. “Retaining the title means more than winning in 2022 and I’m really pleased to be able to share it with The Devonshire Arms. I’d like to thank everyone who voted for us and to congratulate The Devonshire Arms.”

“Julie, Martin and their staff at The Roebuck Inn keep a great pint of Bass,” observes Carl Stout of The Devonshire Arms, who are also Burton & South Derbyshire CAMRA Pub of the Year. “We knew that if we could match their quality, we’d be in with a chance of competing for top spot. We’d like to thank everyone that’s voted for us in The Best Bass in Burton competition. Throughout the town there’s some great Bass served and to finish joint top is a great honour. Bass is a great British institution, and it’s quite right that it should be celebrated throughout the country on National Bass Day. Thanks also to Ian Webster for organising the competition, cheers!”

Ian would like to thank all the volunteer judges who took the time to go around each of the finalists: “It was reassuring to see a wide range of scores being submitted, this truly reflected the differences in drinkers’ tastes. Bass has been part of the identity of Burton for nearly 250 years and it is heart-warming to see so many places giving Draught Bass the love and attention that it richly deserves. I may be biased but I think it is the greatest traditional British beer available and I am proud as a Burtonian to say that the standard is incredibly high in its hometown. 

Congratulations to Carl, Nicki, Julie, Martin and their staff; you have done yourselves, Bass and Burton proud.

The competition for The Best Bass in Burton returns for a second year on 7th and 8th April. The inaugural event was won by the Roebuck Inn.

“At the Roebuck Inn we put a lot of effort into making sure our beers are in the best possible condition, but I was shocked when I found out we had won The Best Bass in Burton last year. I was speechless in fact and thought Ian Webster was joking!” Laughs Julie Latham, landlady of the Roebuck Inn.

Organiser Ian Webster: “It was so close last year, there was only a few points between the Roebuck and second place the Devonshire Arms. This year the competition is being held over two days, there was a lot of feedback that the Judges wanted longer to enjoy the Bass so this time it runs over Good Friday and Saturday, the Saturday is of course National Bass Day.”

Following a Facebook poll that ran for the whole of March, the following venues made it to the final and will have their Bass scored by a group of independent volunteer Judges: Blacksmith’s Arms, The Burton Constitutional Club, Coopers Tavern, Devonshire Arms, The Gate, Roebuck Inn, Uxbridge Arms and Waterloo.

“Last year I appealed for Bass lovers to volunteer as judges and the response was overwhelming with nearly 40 drinkers committing to sample the Bass in each venue,” says Ian. “Taking part couldn’t be easier, no specialist beer tasting knowledge is required, just the ability to recognise fantastic Bass. There is no need to pre-register, just turn up at one of the eight venues on either 7th or 8th April (or both) and ask for an information pack; Judges will be given a Scoring Sheet and a list of instructions or you can download them from the following link The Best Bass in Burton Judges Information – THE BEERTONIAN”

Trevor and Alison Mellor went judging last year and had this to say.

Trevor: “It fantastic to still see Bass being served in the Burton area on draught, as well as straight from the cask. This gave me a great chance to try Bass in numerous pubs in the area not just the ones I normally drink in and choose the best Bass on that day. It’s a great day out, you also meet other people and chat about beers in general.”

Alison: “A great opportunity to meet people in pubs I don’t usually go to and see how popular a Burton classic is.”

Taking part couldn’t be simpler; go on a pub crawl and sign in behind the bar at every venue, drink the Bass and give it a score. Judges will of course have to pay for their beer, The Best Bass in Burton and National Bass Day is all about supporting Bass pubs after all.

“Although this is designed to be a bit of fun, there’s a fair bit of friendly rivalry between the pubs and I’m sure all of them would like to win,” observes Ian. “There’s no prize for first place, but the kudos of selling the best Bass in its hometown will undoubtably bring in new customers for the successful venue. There are three new contenders this year, I really wouldn’t want to predict who will win.”

“There are a lot of other pubs in Burton who also serve amazing Bass so the competition will be close,” thinks Julie Latham. “Would the Roebuck Inn like to win it again? Of course, but it would also be nice for another pub to take the accolade.”

May the best Bass win!

When the announcement came on Monday 12 September that the National Brewery Centre was to close at the end of October, there was an instant public backlash. A Facebook group “Save our National Brewery Centre” was made, a petition created  that at last count had over 8,000 signatures and there was a protest march through the town on Sunday. One person who didn’t attend the march was Dr Harry White, the Chairman of the National Brewery Heritage Trust. In this exclusive interview Harry speaks  openly and honestly on the closure and his hopes for the future of the archives and artefacts that make up Burton’s unique brewing collection.

“I can understand and sympathise with the marchers wanting to express their personal feelings and sadness about the closure of the National Brewery Centre and for them to want to show solidarity with one another and be seen to be doing  something, but ultimately going on a march is not going to solve the need to find a permanent safe home for the NBC collection,” states Harry before adding realistically. “The NBC closure is going to happen, so best to focus efforts on how to keep the collection  together, in Burton and safeguard it for the future.

“I think a lot of the emotion being generated is because people want instant answers to some complex questions which are going to take a while to be resolved,” he adds.

What Is Happening Currently?

There are a lot of talks taking place to secure the future for the archives and artefacts.

“I believe Molson Coors, East Staffordshire Borough Council and the National Brewery Heritage Trust all share a common purpose of trying to find a best-fit solution for the collection in Burton,” says an optimistic Harry.

So how much dialogue currently is there between MCBC, ESBC and yourselves? Do you agree that there appears to be a lot of confusing information coming out?

“A lot of discussions are taking place between all three parties, and no I’m not aware of any confusing information being circulated by any of us. As soon as there are clearer plans in place I’m sure these will be shared.”

The Public Reaction

Was the scale of the public outcry surprising?

“Yes, and in many ways that is to be welcomed, but I feel a lot of it has been an instant gut reaction rather than serious thought as to the underlying reasons why.”

 There has been a noticeable rise in Facebook posts showing people visiting the NBC since the announcement of the closure, this may be regulars going for one last look around, but no doubt others are taking the opportunity to visit for the first time before it is too late. 

“We’re all sad to see the NBC site close and feel extremely sorry for employees and volunteers who are losing their jobs, but the decision to close the site has to be viewed within the broader context of the current economic climate, and  in particular the difficulties facing the hospitality industry.” 

Harry doesn’t sound like he was too surprised.

“No, I wasn’t,” he reveals. “The NBC has been very reliant on hospitality and events activities and of course COVID meant the site was closed for the best part of two years.”

How long had discussions been taking place between MCBC and PSL and when were the NBHT informed of the decision?

“I was officially told of the plans for closure in September, after the agreement between PSL and MCBC was signed. However, I was made aware during August that discussions between PSL and MCBC were taking place.” 

On the recent march the chants were very much aimed at MCBC, although ESBC have taken a lot of criticism in the media.

“ESBC are spear-heading a major initiative to regenerate Burton town centre and attract visitors to the town. Their intended purchase of the Old Bass High Street site offers them huge scope and potential to re-orientate the town centre  and create something special both for Burtonians and visitors alike,” compliments Harry. “They have offered and are keen to rehouse not only the archives but also the important brewing artefacts displayed at the NBC as part of their overall plans for the High Street site.”

 
The Archive and the NBHT

“The NBHT are a registered charity made up of volunteers whose objectives are to protect and preserve the archives and artefacts, ensure they stay together in Burton and encourage greater public awareness and accessibility. For over a decade  the Trust has operated independently of PSL, who have operated the site and MCBC who own the site and most of the collection.”

Most of the archive is not on public display, so many people will not understand the range of materials that the NBHT look after, can you explain what there is and their current storage requirements?

“The brewing artefacts on the NBC site include items of malting and brewing equipment from Victorian time onwards, together with ancillary plant such as a huge steam engine and various forms of road and rail transport for both raw materials  and finished beer.

“In addition to raising funds through membership subscriptions and donations for repair and refurbishment of some of the artefacts stored and displayed at the NBC, the Trust’s main activities in recent years has been to increase public  awareness and accessibility to the vast array of brewing industry archives stored in the attics in the NBC. To help realise this goal a small team of volunteers have been working on producing a digital catalogue of the archives and publishing this via a public  access website: http://nbcarchives.co.uk/“

The archives consist of approximately half a million items, embracing breweries, brewing companies and public houses across the UK, and date from the mid-1700s to the present day. They include brewing records, personnel records, engineering  plans, sales records, and photos as well as audio visual material.

“The archives are unique and because they cover such a breadth and depth, should be considered the crown jewels of the collection. It is intended that they will form a key part of the proposed new museum in High Street. The archive collection  is currently stored in a space that is less than 200 square metres in size and so there will be enough room at the new museum to house these effectively.”

The Immediate Future

What can we expect to happen in the next few weeks?

“I understand that the NBC site will close to the public at the end of October and PSL will vacate the site by the end of November. Sometime in the new year MCBC proposes to begin the sensitive redevelopment of the site focused on the main  building. The building known as the Joiner’s Shop, which was the home of the original Bass Museum, and a number of other areas are not, as I understand, part of MCBC’s immediate development plans for the site, and so these buildings can be used to continue  to store the collection. 

“The Joiners’ Shop and its contents will remain as is in the interim, as will a number of the vehicles in the yard, including the Robey steam engine, unless the owners request their return. The immediate priority will be to find appropriate  temporary storage for the various items of malting and brewing equipment currently on display in the Gallery area of the NBC.” 

The proposed use of shipping containers has been the subject of a recent rather controversial article on social media.

“That article ignored the context within which the use of such containers were mentioned. They wouldn’t be used for items for which they weren’t suitable,” says a frustrated Harry.

Will the paper archives be stored in the Joiners Shop?

“No, it is intended that the long-term permanent home for the archives will be as part of the new museum in the town on High Street. For the interim the Trust and ESBC are working together to find a safe and secure location in Burton that  actually improves access and availability to residents and tourists.”

The Long-Term Future

“ESBC passed a resolution at its meeting in late September to work with the Trust and MCBC on maintaining a space for celebrating Burton’s brewing heritage. The High Street site is a central feature of the Town Development Plan, proposals  which were published in 2021. A core aim of this is the transformation of Burton into a major tourist destination. Hopefully the relocation of the important brewing artefacts displayed at the NBC will support and help realise this ambition. With respect to  the artefacts, the Trust believes that first and foremost they should be kept in Burton.”

Will the High Street solution work with regards to capacity and accessibility, who would be best suited to run this facility? Where will the money come from?

“The High Street site far exceeds the NBC in terms of size and depending on what the final overall plan for the site is, public access should not be an issue. How the site will operate, who will be responsible and how it will be funded  are issues currently under discussion. In terms of funding, although the initial set up costs could potentially be covered by government grants, I believe a key ambition for the site is that it should be self-funding in terms of covering its operating costs.  To do that it will need to be multi-purpose as opposed to simply a museum.”

Do you think that the Heritage Centre on High Street could work better than the NBC?

“Because the archives are mostly paper and/or card they need to be stored in a humidity and temperature-controlled environment, which the current NBC doesn’t lend itself to easily,” reveals Harry. “So yes, I think the proposed new museum  on High Street, assuming it is properly set up and financed, offers a far better environment for the archives, and artefacts, and should ensure their safety and security for future generations to come. There is also an opportunity to look at how a modern museum  could operate, linking the existing offer of the NBC with new, immersive technologies that could encourage more visitors.”

What can the public do to help secure the future of the archive?

Anyone who, like us, cares about preserving the town’s brewing archives and artefacts, should consider joining the Trust and supporting our work. Find out more by visiting our website http://www.breweryheritage.com/“

 

It can’t be just me thinking that it’s been a bloody long time since the first week of September. In a matter of weeks we’ve lost two Burton Ale Trail venues out of fifteen, but should we be worried for the future of the BAT, I think not.

The fate of The Alfred Ale House has probably been coming for a while, whilst The Brewery Tap was a real bolt from the blue, but I don’t foresee any of the remaining thirteen in imminent danger and that is in part thanks to your continuing support; I’m not saying the BAT is all that is keeping some pubs open but it certainly makes for an amazing weekend of trade every six months and it has led to a number of you becoming returning customers between the BATs. Every pint helps!

Historically pubs come and pubs go; for an extreme example you need only look at the list from 1914 at the end of this post for all the unfamiliar names, this is without those that came and went in the last 108 years and a few glaring omissions, but two in a month? That could well be unprecedented. 

The Brewery Tap and The Alfred Ale House are closing for different reasons, the first either a shortsighted decision from an uncaring multinational or the fault of the local council (delete as applicable, I choose the former) and The Alfred Ale House, well we can only but speculate but my guess is it is for similar reasons that did for the much missed Derby Inn, however one thing is certain with another period of difficult trading ahead this winter the pubs need you as much as ever.

The original idea for the BAT was for a one off post Lockdown shot in the arm for the local licensed trade but it outgrew this almost immediately with cries for a second event before the first had even started. With the fourth BAT in the planning stage, like it or love it it’s not going away. I’m not sure how long something has to exist to become an institution but we will keep doing this until we find out.

You’ll note that between events the Facebook group ticks over advertising gigs, tap takeovers and other such beery events and that’s because unlike your traditional here-one-weekend-gone-the-next beer festival, the pubs are open all year and rather than being staffed by volunteers, the people serving you do it for a living and are very grateful for your custom.

I’ve started to notice a few articles and social media posts where the phrase “… like they are doing in Burton upon Trent” or similar is being used, so yes there are other people and towns watching what we are all creating here: a network, a community, something that will guarantee the survival of our pubs. Burton Ale Trailers you can be proud of yourselves!

So who is off for a pint later?

If this week has shown one thing, it is that there is still a lot of pride in Burton regarding it’s brewing history. If you are reading this you will know this is a subject very close to my heart, unsurprisingly I have taken the news of the closure of the National Brewery Centre hard. I’m angry, I’ll even admit I’ve even lost sleep over this.

Although some of the reaction has been fueled by shameless political point scoring, Molson Coors could never have anticipated a backlash of this magnitude.

Keep your hands off our history!

The message is clear, the National Brewery Centre must stay open.

If Molson Coors are foolhardy enough to defy public opinion, then a replacement facility must be found quickly for the artefacts, vehicles and the beautiful horses that call the National Brewery Centre home.

I don’t think for a minute that the archive is in danger of being binned (as one scaremonger has suggested), I have total faith in Dr Harry White and the team at the National Brewery Heritage Trust that it will be looked after with the respect and care such a priceless collection deserves, although no doubt given the option, they’d be happier for the material to stay put. The proposed Bass House solution is the great unknown and I can’t see it being as good as the current facilities at the National Brewery Centre.

The loss of the Heritage Brewing Company will be keenly felt by beer drinkers, personally I am particularly fond of their Masterpiece and P2 Stout. The brewery has changed hands and names a few times in the last 40 odd years, it’s been known as the Museum Brewery and the White Shield Brewery. It doesn’t deserve such a cruel and sudden end; the beers are too good for that.

Another victim is the on-site pub The Brewery Tap which has been part of The Burton Ale Trail since its inception; it has been an integral part in the event’s success and future trails will feel that loss. It has been a pleasure to work with Sarah Tooley and her team, their enthusiasm will be greatly missed.

I don’t know what else to say really, this is awful moment for the town brought about by a company who really should be protecting and promoting history, not destroying it.

“Elated, surprised, gobsmacked … I didn’t think we were in the running at all … I can’t believe it, I just don’t know what to say,” says a genuinely surprised Julie Latham, Landlady of The Roebuck Inn on hearing the news that her pub has won ‘The Best Bass in Burton 2022’ competition, which was held last Saturday on ‘National Bass Day’.

After taking a few minutes to compose herself, Julie continues: “My staff and I are so pleased to have won this, I’d like to thank everyone behind the bar for their hard work on Saturday and of course the Judges for holding our Bass in such high esteem and recognising what our regulars have been telling us for years.”

A short list of six permanent Bass houses was drawn up following a vote on Social Media: The Constitutional Club, The Coopers Tavern, The Devonshire Arms, The Elms Inn, The Roebuck Inn and The Waterloo Inn all made it through for the chance to be scored by groups of independent Bass aficionados, to answer a question that has been debated countless times, who serves the best Bass in Burton? 

Out of all the Burton beers, Bass is the most historic and important. The link between Burton and Bass stretches back to 1777 and without Bass the town wouldn’t be what it is today. Very little is left of the Bass empire: two breweries on Station Street (one disused), Bass House on High Street, some offices, a few Maltings, the Water Tower next to the Washlands … not much to show for a company that once spanned the whole town.

Bass may have ceased as a brewer over 20 years ago but the beer Draught Bass is still produced in Burton by Marston’s under licence from owners AB-InBev.

“Yes the Bass of today isn’t exactly the same as I remember drinking in the 1980’s, but it is still one of my favourites,” reckons competition organiser Ian Webster. “Marston’s do a fantastic job, they have captured that nutty malty taste perfectly.”

The result was incredibly close, the margin between first and second being only a few marks.

“At one point I thought it was going to be a draw,” laughs Ian. “The standard of the Bass from all six pubs was incredibly high, I noticed slight variations in each pint which is down to the cellaring technique, the way that the beer is served and so on.”

The runners-up are The Devonshire Arms, the pub being a few hundred metres along Station Street from the winner.

“First of all we’d like to congratulate Julie and her team at The Roebuck Inn for the title of ‘The Best Bass in Burton 2022’, I’ve drank it a few times ‘up the road’ and it’s always top notch,” says a gracious Carl Stout, who along with his wife Nicki keeps The Devonshire Arms. “Secondly we’d like to thank everyone who took part and those who took the time to vote for us.

“In the three years since buying The Devvie, it is the most Bass we have sold in one day. On a personal note, to finish second in the Burton and South Derbyshire CAMRA Pub of the Year and now second in ‘The Best Bass in Burton 2022’ is an achievement we at The Devvie are very proud of.”

The competition is set to become an annual fixture for Bass fans.

Julie: “Now for the hard part, defending the title next year.”

The next ‘National Bass Day’ and ‘The Best Bass in Burton 2023’ will be held on Easter Saturday 8 April 2023, why not save the date and if you are a Bass lover why not come and join the Judges next time?

National Bass Day | Facebook

I went to the Constitutional Club in Burton upon Trent recently; it sits literally a stone’s throw along High Street from Bass House and was founded by monies from Lord Burton. It proudly serves one beer on draught, what else but Bass? Newly acquired Bass drip mats are on every table, the club printed them up themselves as they can’t get hold of the official versions. Now let that sink in for a minute, Bass is the tenth best selling cask ale in the country and the brewery do not produce drip mats! There are also no posters, adverts in the press, pump clips are hard to come by, the only item a publican can get hold of are pint glasses. There’s something wrong here.

Generally, I try to keep a cordial relationship with breweries, but I have given up with AB InBev who own Bass as I have never come across such apathy towards a brand. It’s not like its just any brand either, it is Bass for goodness sake! The Red Triangle! It is the most recognisable Trademark in the world! The label for Bass Pale Ale was trademark number one (the Red Triangle itself was number 913)! Bass was once the greatest brewer in the world and AB InBev really couldn’t give a toss. There’s something really wrong here.

Marston’s, once arch rivals of Bass have brewed the beer under contract since 2005 at their Albion Brewery on Shobnall Road; Lord Burton would have wept. Marston’s do an excellent job too; it has that malty nuttiness that I remember from when I first drank it in the late 1980’s. It’s not “Bass” Bass but it is Bass and a damn fine drink too. Many argue that it is better than Pedigree and they are right.

There’s another form of Bass, an imposter in a Bass bottle. It is brewed at the Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I Brewery at Salmesbury (aka Shamelessbury), Preston and pales (pun intended) in comparison to the Marston’s brew. The only time I’ve had it in the last ten years was on the cancelled 2020 National Bass Day when there was no Draught Bass in the world to be had. There’s something really really wrong here.

So today is the first National Bass Day, not a bright idea from the AB InBev Marketing Department, but of one man, a Burtonian now living Bakewell way called Ian Thurman and it’s developed a life of its own. Think about it, tenth best selling cask ale in the country and it is being promoted by a passionate amateur, one who gets no support from the owners? I’d be embarrassed, no wonder the triangle is red, it is blushing.

Hang your head in shame AB InBev. If you don’t want the brand, sell it.

I originally wrote this at speed a few weeks back, apart from the odd tweak here and there and the removal of a “fucking”, I stand by what I wrote, so here it is.