June 2010
145-year Birthday Brew at Donnington
A Spring clean at Donnington Brewery near Stow on the Wold resulted in the discovery of the original brewing book recording its very first ale brewed on 27 May 1865. Exactly 145 years to the day, the team at Donnington Brewery celebrated the discovery and brewed a special Founders Ale.
On 27 May 1865, Richard Isles Arkell, who had moved to Donnington the previous year, recorded the first brew consisted of 25 barrels of Best and 26 barrels of Table*.
The 2010 Founders Ale, 4% ABV and available on draught from 4th June, uses Maris Otter Malt (very pale, winter barley), English Golding hops in the Copper and Willamotte hops in the hop back producing a pale coloured beer with a strong Styrian hop flavour coming through the palate.
James Arkell, who owns Donnington Brewery (named 2010 Brewery of the Year by the Good Pub Guide), is thrilled with the new beer.
“The records show that Richard Isles Arkell brewed once a week at Donnington and it’s wonderful to think we were able to brew a very similar beer exactly 145 years to the day.”
James and his team started brewing the Founders Ale early last Thursday, fortified by bacon butties brought to the brewery by Karl Baston landlord from nearby-Donnington pub The Mount at Stanton. Apart from a couple of cars parked outside, Donnington Brewery wouldn’t have looked much different 145 years ago.
“Inside the brewery is very similar,” said James “We stood on pretty much the same spot to brew and taste the beer as Richard would have done, probably using some of the same equipment too. The best things never change.”
Founders Ale, available at Donnington’s 15 pubs, will also be available in bottles from around 11th June.
*James explains the term Table Beer: “Table beer used to refer to weak bottled beer, generally less than 1.5% ABV drunk at meal times instead of water, simply because as it had been boiled in the brewing process, it was safer. It was also known as Small beer.”
Val Teale and James Arkell
The Beer Record Book 1865 (and close up, below)
