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There's still quite a way to go with this series, as we're still only on the second Big Six brewer. Not done Whitbread yet, either. And they owned more breweries than anyone.

Today we've the two smaller M & B breweries. The good ones. Both in the Black Country. One producing just Mild, the other just Bitter. Highgate was a real survivor, clinging on for almost 75 years after being bought by M & B just before WW II.

Then there's Stones. Who really only made the one beer, Stones Bitter. A very pale beer, which was pretty decent. At least in the early days.


M & B (Highgate)
Walsall,
West Midlands.
Founded: 1898
Closed: 2010
Tied houses: 30

A real oddity: a Mild-only brewery. Whose beer was only available in the Walsall area. It was remarkably long-lived, given its small size and early acquisition date, having been bought by M & B in 1939.

beer style format OG description
Highgate Mild Mild draught 1034 dark and malty


M & B (Springfield)
Wolverhampton,
West Midlands.
Founded: 1839
Closed: 1991
Tied houses: 830

Bought by M & B in 1960. I quite liked Springfield Bitter, which was way better than Brew X.

beer style format OG description
Springfield Bitter Pale Ale draught 1035.9 sweetish


Stone
Sheffield,
South Yorkshire.
Founded: 1895
Closed: 1998
Tied houses: 257

Bought by Bass Charrington in 1968.

beer style format OG description
Best Bitter Pale Ale draught 1038.2 well hopped and very pale

Time for another plug of my latest book, "Keg!". From which the above was taken.
Get your copy of "Keg!" now!




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