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An interesting trio of breweries today. One of which is even still operating today. The others are long gone. And I never got to try either of their beers. One closed too long ago. And one was too physically remote.

Sometime in the mid-1970s, What's Brewing printed the gravities of beers they'd had analysed. Not just cask beers, importantly. I'd love to get my hands on it. Does anyone know where I might be able to find it?


Cameron
Hartlepool,
County Durham.
Founded: 1852
Closed: still open
Tied houses: 700

Cameron was one of the largest independent breweries in Northeast England. They were well-represented throughout the region, stretching as far south of Yorkshire. It's a rare survivor of brewers of this size.
beer style format OG description
Best Bitter Pale Ale draught 1036 well-balanced
Strongarm Pale Ale draught 1042 not sweet
Mild Mild draught 1033 Dark Mild
Tartan Keg Pale Ale keg
Icegold Lager Lager keg 1038.4
Special Light Ale Pale Ale bottled
Export Ale Pale Ale bottled
Strongarm Pale Ale bottled
Old Scranton Barley Wine Barley Wine bottled
Special Brown Ale Brown Ale bottled

Carlisle State Management
Carlisle,
Cumbria.
Founded: 1756
Closed: 1984
Tied houses: 170

Now here’s an oddity: a state-owned brewery. During WW I, there was concern about the workers who had moved into the town to work in the munitions factories were drinking too much. In reaction, the drinks trade in the town was nationalised. Two of the three breweries were closed and all the pubs served from the one that remained.

In the early 1970s, the Conservative government decided to privatise it in the most stupid way possible, first selling the pubs, then trying to offload the brewery. Surprisingly, they did manage to sell the brewery to Theakston in 1974. Who used it to brew Theakston Bitter for the free trade. The brewery closed after Theakston was acquired by Matthew Bbrown in 1984.

beer style format OG description
Bitter Pale Ale draught 1036.3 well-balanced
Mild Mild draught 1033 Dark Mild
Bitter Pale Ale keg 1036.6 well-balanced
Mild Mild keg Dark Mild
Light Ale Pale Ale bottled
Nut Brown Ale Brown Ale bottled
Export Pale Ale bottled

Castletown
Castletown,
Isle of Man.
Founded: 1860
Closed: 1986
Tied houses: 36

One of two breweries on the island, Castletown operated under different legislation to the mainland UK. Brewers had to stick to the pre-1880 rules. That is, only malt, hops, sugar and water were allowed. No adjuncts. Castletown beers weren’t regularly available outside the island. In 1986 they merged with Okell, the other local brewer, and were closed.

beer style format OG description
Bitter Pale Ale draught 1036 well-balanced
Mild Mild draught 1036 Light Mild
Pale Ale Pale Ale bottled
Nut Brown Ale Brown Ale bottled medium sweet
Liqueur Barley Wine Barley Wine bottled
Jubilee Stout Stout bottled brewed under licence from Bass Charrington




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