Neil Land with his little scrubber.
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Neil Land with his little scrubber. |
WHITLEY BRIDGE BREWING COMPANY
2003-2005
There was a substantial entry
for Whitley Bridge Brewery on the Wakefield CAMRA Website. This has now
been pared down to this single page, but much of the original material is available
on a Picasa
Web Album.
The Brewery closed around 4th July 2005, and the plant was sold to the new Ulverston Brewery. Neil retained the brand name which he has since sold on, and there remains the possibility of someone else brewing Whitley Bridge beers in the Selby area. Neil can still be reached on 01924 825836 or (mobile) 07775 898931.
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Neil was a professional brewer for 15 years with Carlsberg-Tetley in Leeds but had a lot of help and encouragement from Clark's and Bob Hunter of the Red Lion Brewery on setting up on his own. The beers appeared locally at the Red Shed, Harry's Bar, Flanshaw Hotel, Vine Tree and Fernandes, also West Riding Licensed Refreshment Rooms in Dewsbury, on the real ale circuit in Sheffield and as far away as Sunderland and Newcastle.
Whitley Bridge reckoned to brew up twice a week on their 4 barrel brew length plant. There were 4 beers available initially from a standard bitter to a black ale/mild. Then in the good days at Newton Hill production more than trebled. Regular brews are indicated by bold type.
| Nelly's Ale | 4.3% | a standard bitter, fruity flavoured with a hoppy aftertaste (Fuggles). Nelly is the brewer's nickname |
| Gunslingers Bitter | 4.3% | a creamy flavoured ruby ale, bittered with Challenger and dry-hopped with Fuggles, originally brewed for a C & W club called Ghostriders in Leeds |
| Emberzale |
4.3% |
a dark mild ale with a rich fruity flavour, originally 4.1%, Mild category winner at Doncaster Beerex 2004, and Merrie City 2004. |
| Black Drake |
3.7% |
a black mild ale, not currently in production |
| Knee Knocker |
4.0% |
a light coloured fruity and refreshing Summer beer |
| Sharpshooter | 5.0% | a fruity sweetish ruby ale, produced in the winter |
| All The Way | 3.8% | a light summer beer named for Euro 2004, by the winner of a competition for Yorkshire Water employees - could be re-named as it looks as if its success will continue longer than England's football team |
| Newton Bar Bitter | 4.3% | developed from Nelly's but well dry-hopped to take away any sweetness |
| Bridge Gold | 3.8% | a new medium coloured fruity session bitter, now primed for a fuller flavour |
| Gold | 3.9% | an aromatic butterscotch-y bronze-gold coloured beer developed from Knee Knocker but using more crystal malt |
| Whitley's Winter Warmer | 4.9% | a copper coloured brew with the accent on crystal malt, also known as Mrs T's Winter Warmer |
| Kudos | 5.0% | deceptively easy drinking golden strong ale brewed with Maris Otter pale and crystal malt, hopped throughout with Styrian Goldings for an unforgettable aroma |
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Photo shows Neil's brother-in-law Richard Leach, who worked full-time as brewing manager, |
SUCCESS AT DONCASTER BEEREX 2004
Emberzale was Mild Category Winner at Doncaster Beerex, April 2004 - first from the new brewery which celebrated one year in existence April 3rd 2004.
FURTHER SUCCESS AT LOCKWOOD
Whitley Bridge gained Beer of the Festival at the 2004 festival held at the Star Inn at Folly Hall, Lockwood, Huddersfield.
GREAT SUCCESS AT MERRIE CITY 2004
In a strictly regulated blind tasting Emberzale came top in the Mild category and was rated no.3 beer overall.