LAGER FRENZY!

No please, contain your excitement

Posted on May 14, 2009 by Andrew

The Society was founded in 1972 to promote research into all aspects of the brewing industry, to encourage the interchange of information about breweries and brewing, and to collect photographic and other archive information about brewery history.

… because the proofs are back for the article I’ve written with Martin Iversen about Carlsberg’s expansion (mostly into the UK). It is part of a special Scandinavian issue of Brewery History and is probably one of the few times that lager has graced the pages of this fine journal.

I joined the Brewery History Society last year and the journal always has good well researched articles in it. So have a look if you fancy learning a bit more about the history behind Fuggles hops.

You can also read more about that particular story on Martyn Cornell’s blog Zythophile.

Bang, bang, another beery myth hits the floorboards, or at least staggers back badly wounded, after excellent work by Kim Cook in an article called “Who produced Fuggle’s Hops” just published in the latest (Spring 2009, issue 130) edition of Brewery History magazine.

Update: You can also see the paper on Academia.edu on https://www.academia.edu/5048982/Carlsberg_from_exporter_to_an_integrated_multinational_enterprise_with_Martin_J_Iversen_

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New life for one of the UK’s first lager breweries

Posted on May 13, 2009 by Andrew

Wrexham Lager Brewery opened in 1882, closed by Carlsberg Tetley in 2000 and sold for £1, could be resurrected by by Welsh MP Martyn Jones.

Martyn Jones, worked as a microbiologist at the brewery from 1969 until June 1987 when he was elected to the House of Commons as Labour MP for Clwyd South West. He bought the Wrexham Lager brand from Carlsberg Tetley for £1 to stop it disappearing for ever.

Martyn Jones with Wrexham Lager, the brand he bought for £1. Photo: BBC News

He’s retiring from politics after the next General Election, but is apparently looking around for something to keep him busy according to the Daily Post.

“I also still own the brand for Wrexham Lager and there is somebody serious interested in working on it. I think it has got legs, it would be great to get Wrexham Lager started again.”

He started a campaign in March to bring Wrexham Lager back after a gap of nearly 10 years.

Historic brewery

Wrexham Lager Brewery was set up in 1882 by German immigrants Ivan Levinstein and Otto Isler to make Bavarian-style lager. The site was chosen because cutting into hillside would provide natural insulation for cellars. But the storage temperature could not be kept low enough and the brewery sank into voluntary liquidation.

It was rescued thanks to new techniques of refrigeration and produced beer until 2000, when it was closed.

Posted in Brands, Brewing history, Lager, UK lager | Tagged Wrexham | Comments Off

Lager loathing started early in New York

Posted on May 11, 2009 by Andrew

We admit having once to oblige a friend from the fatherland tasted this repulsive drink and while we acknowledge our present friendship for choice Havana we are truly thankful that our aversion for lager bier has remained permanent from the first mouthful.

That quote comes from an article in the June 1856 edition of the United States magazine of science, art, manufactures, agriculture, commerce and trade and shows that lager loathing is not a new phenomenon. The article described how lager bier “a nauseating drink” had taken over New York.

Lager came to New York in the 1840s brought and encouraged by German immigrants, but soon it became popular with the locals as well. Not much change there then.

The appetite for lager bier is daily acquired by hundreds rich and poor, young and old, high and low natives and foreigners on all sides are imbibing immense quantities of this lately introduced liquid. Physicians prescribe it for our wives and instead of being asked to smile as of old we are now familiarly invited to take a little lager. In short a nauseating drink that before was scarcely known even by name has within five years become the favorite beverage not only of New Yorkers but a large portion of our fellow citizens in all directions

Source: United States magazine of science, art, manufactures, agriculture, commerce and trade