National Cask Ale Week

JW Lees
2024-09-19
We are kicking off Cask Ale Week 2024 with our first Brewery of the day – JW Lees – a firm national favourite that dates back to 1828.
Located in Middleton, Manchester, JW Lees is renowned for its commitment to producing high quality traditional ales and maintaining its status as a family owned and independent brewery.
JW Lees diverse range of ales each offer unique flavour profiles and characteristics. Some of their most popular ales include:
JW Lees Bitter– This is the brewery’s flagship beer, a classic British bitter known for its balanced flavour, featuring a malty sweetness and mild hoppy bitterness.
Manchester Pale Ale (MPA) – MPA is a contemporary pale ale that offers a modern twist on traditional brewing. It’s a hoppy and fruity beer with a distinctively crisp finish.
Moonraker – A golden ale with a light refreshing taste, Moonraker is known for its citrusy and floral notes, making it a popular choice during the summer months.
And whilst tradition forms a large part of the brewer’s DNA, so does a thirst for experimentation. Over the years the introduction of annual seasonal ales programme, collaborations with other renowned brewers, and more recently, the birth of the Boilerhouse range demonstrate JW Lees’ dedication to the spirit of innovation.
JW Lees’ Boilerhouse small batch brew range is an excellent example of how the 200 year old brewer is adapting to the evolving tastes of modern beer enthusiasts by offering a selection of innovative and exciting craft-style ales alongside their classic offerings.
Whether you’re a fan of traditional British bitters or more adventurous craft brews, JW Lees has something to offer every beer lover.

White Rat by Ossett Brewery
2024-09-19
Our first Beer of the Day for Cask Ale Week 2024 is White Rat by Ossett Brewery and has been chosen by Cask Marque Marque Assessor, Martin Hilton.
Martin Says: “I think it’s a great beer, a white hazy pale cask ale that based upon my assessments over the year seems to be really consistent in flavour, really respected by landlords and really cherished by pub goers”.
Ossett’s Head Brewer has shared some interesting facts about White Rat

This very pale, hoppy ale is made from low colour malt. A combination of Cascade, Columbus and Amarillo hops produce an intensely aromatic and resinous finish.
White Rat was first brewed in September 2011. After a test brew (Lab Rat), White Rat was the first beer brewed at the Rat Brewery in Huddersfield, and was designed specifically to match the drinking preferences of the regulars in the pub.
Originally the beer was brewed with Cascade and Amarillo, and a smidgen of Admiral for bitterness, but in 2012 when the it was just starting to build a reputation there was a shortage of some US varieties – including Amarillo! To flesh out what Amarillo we had, we substituted in some Columbus and the recipe has remained the same to this day.
It was brewed as a tribute to some of the classic American pales, with it’s high bitterness and intense citrus aroma, and for some it was seen as a little extreme back in the day. However, as tastes have evolved it has become a firm favourite.
Originally one brew of twenty casks was brewed each week, but as its popularity grew that became two and soon four. To meet demand, production moved to the larger brewery at Ossett and became an Ossett branded beer in 2020.

Timothy Taylor's Brewery
2024-09-20
Today’s Cask Ale Week Brewery of the day is Yorkshire based Timothy Taylor’s Brewery.
Timothy Taylor’s is one of the UK’s oldest family-owned breweries with over 160 years’ heritage of brewing award-winning ales, with their Landlord winning more awards than any other beer, winning both CAMRA Champion Beer of Britain and the Brewing Industry Awards Gold Medal four times. Established in 1858 when Timothy Taylor began brewing in Keighley, the company remains in the family and is the last independent brewery of its type left in West Yorkshire.
For even more insight into what makes Timothy Taylor’s Beers So Special – this article is a great read https://www.timothytaylor.co.uk/news/what-makes-timothy-taylors-beers-so-special

Landlord by Timothy Taylor's
2024-09-20
Our Ale Trailers have voted for todays “Beer of the Day” and they have chosen Landlord by Timothy Taylor’s.
Landlord has won more awards than any other beer, winning both CAMRA Champion Beer of Britain and the Brewing Industry Awards Gold Medal four times.

Landlord, Timothy Taylor’s

· ABV: 4.3
· Colour: Pale Amber
· Aroma: Citrus, Hoppy, Fruity
· Taste: Full, Sweet, Lingering Hop

Adnams Brewery
2024-09-21
Brewery of the Day number 3 for Cask Ale Week 2024 is Adnams Brewery.
Adnams has a long and colourful history. We’re proud of our Southwold roots, which help give us the strength and confidence to grow and evolve, keeping us fresh and innovative.
We love what we do, and we’ve done it for a while now – 150 years to be exact. We are distinctive brewers, distillers, wine merchants, retailers, publicans, and hoteliers.
We craft well-loved premium beers and spirits, and work with some wonderful producers to bring you the best wines in the world. Our stores, hotels, pubs, and inns reflect our individuality and the personality of our incredible teams. Our focus, and theirs, is to create memorable moments and to give our customers experiences that delight.

Ghost Ship by Adnams
2024-09-21
Our third Beer of the Day for Cask Ale Week 2024 is Ghost Ship by Adnams, which has been chosen by Clair Iddenden from Cask Marque.
Clair Says:
“Adnams Ghost Ship has been a firm favourite of mine since I joined Cask Marque, 10 years ago. I’m very partial to an IPA, so the citrus taste always hits the spot. It’s also great to support a beloved local business”
First brewed 15th Sept 2010, Ghost Ship Pale Ale, 4.5% cask has been with Adnams for 14 years, and inspired their Ghost Ship 0.5% Pale Ale, which is the No.1 selling low and no Ale in the on-trade.
Read more here – https://adnams.co.uk/blogs/journal/the-legend-of-ghost-ship
The story of the rebrand of Ghost Ship is here: https://adnams.co.uk/blogs/journal/rebranding-ghost-ship-pale-ale-ghost-ship-0-5
Tasting Notes:

ABV: 4.5
Colour: Straw
Aroma: Elderflower, Bold Citrus
Taste: Citrus Fruit

Bowland Brewery
2024-09-22
Day 4 – We have chosen Bowland Brewery.
Ales Of Outstanding Natural Beauty are brewed beneath the chimney at Holmes Mill in Clitheroe. Behind the famous Beer Hall at Holmes Mill, a dedicated team of artisan brewers craft a collection of cask beers inspired by the outstandingly beautiful landscape of Bowland.
Bowland Brewery started life as a microbrewery on the edge of the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, making a selection of beers named after the scenery and wildlife of this picturesque corner of Lancashire. As the reputation of Bowland Brewery cask and bottled beers spread, demand increased from further afield requiring a relocation to larger premises at Holmes Mill in 2015.

The brewery is visible through large floor to ceiling glass windows at the back of Bowland Beer Hall, our award-winning tap house which boasts one of the longest bars in the UK with 42 cask hand pull ales
This month we celebrate 10 years since joining the James’ Places family. As we continue to grow in size and ambition, we remain firmly true to our roots – never compromising on quality or our ethos to create outstanding ales inspired by outstanding surroundings for beer drinkers everywhere.
Great beer that does good! We are continually inspired by and committed to the beautiful part of the country which we live and brew in, so here at Bowland Brewery we are always looking at ways to give a little back to support both our community and our environment.
From giving our spent grains to local farmers to feed their cows, to using our very own honey from our new hives in our Bumble Honey Beer, we are dedicated to the landscape from which we draw inspiration.
We are also committed to supporting local causes from across the Forrest of Bowland Area of Outstanding National Beauty. From sponsoring local events like the Ribble Valley Jazz & Blues Festival to creating a special ale for the Ribble Valley Pub Walk to raise much needed funds for East Lancashire Hospice.

Best Bitter by Long Man Brewery
2024-09-22
Our fourth Beer of the Day for Cask Ale Week is Best Bitter by Long Man Brewery, which has been chosen by Mark Dredge, Beer Writer and TV Presenter.
Mark says:“This is my favourite local ale. The brewery is on a farm which grows barley using regenerative farming, and that barley gives this beer a rich malt flavour, with English hops adding a lovely bitterness. It’s a classic Sussex Best Bitter”.
Long Man, Best Bitter is perfectly balanced with a complex bittersweet malty taste, fragrant hops and a characteristic long deep finish. A traditional Sussex style Best Bitter.
Tasting Notes:

ABV: 4.0
Colour: Amber
Aroma: Fruity, Malty, Spicy
Taste: Full, Hoppy, Dry Finish

Okell's Brewery
2024-09-23
Brewery of the Day on 23rd September 2024 is Okell’s Brewery based in the Isle of Man.
Founded in 1850 by Dr William Okell who was a man that believed in quality pure beer!
The impressive Heritage Collection of beers have stood the test of time and taste, from world famous Bitter and award-winning IPA, to Manx Pale Ale which started out as a special but just kept coming back into brewing by popular demand!
All of the cask beers are pure-brewed, fresh, natural, full of flavour and character and, served with care in attentive pubs, are Pure Perfection.
www.okells.co.uk

Jack Back by Stewart Brewing
2024-09-23
Our fifth Beer of the Day judge for Cask Ale Week is CaskFinder Ale Trailer and travel blogger, Daniel Bates aka Voyager avec Danik – Travel blogger!

His choice is the fantastic Jack Back by Stewart Brewing

Jack Back is a hoppy delight, infused with the vibrant notes of Citra and Mosaic hops that bring forth a tropical and citrus fruit aroma, tantalizing the senses before the first sip. It strikes a perfect balance between boldness and drinkability. The beer’s profile is further enhanced by its underlying hoppy character, which imparts a pleasant bitterness that complements the fruity overtones, creating a refreshing and satisfying experience with every sip!

Jack Back, Stewart Brewing
· ABV: 3.7
· Colour: Straw
· Aroma: Strong, Tropical Fruit
· Taste: Light, Crisp, Refreshing

You can read more about his journey here: https://www.voyageravecdanik.com/post/a1-pub-crawl-part-one-london-to-peterborough

Theakston Brewery
2024-09-24
Our 6th Brewery of the Day for National Cask Ale Week 2024 is Theakston Brewery.

T&R Theakston Ltd. is one of the UK’s most prominent family brewing companies, with a quality reputation extending almost 200 years since the company was founded by Robert Theakston in 1827. The company today is still controlled and managed by members of the original family guided by the same brewing ethos which has been forever their quality hallmark. Theakston cask beers are available and enjoyed throughout the UK and include a range of award-winning ales of which Theakston Old Peculier, Theakston Best and Theakston Lightfoot are best known.
Recent developments however include the runaway success launch of a new lower strength cask ale, Theakston Quencher, a light amber beer brewed especially to taste fulsome and rounded at the lower ABV, meeting a growing demand for this style of beer. More newly developed cask ales are in the pipeline for next year including the roll out of the exciting Theakston Peculier IPA, equally successfully trialled earlier this summer.
A combination of quality and innovation has driven a 10% growth in Theakston cask ales this year alone, underpinning the company’s confidence in the future of cask beer and the growing demand for their own range’

Palmer's Brewery
2024-09-25
Our 7th Brewery of the Day for National Cask Ale Week 2024 is Palmers Brewery.

Palmers Brewery‘s ales are brewed in one of Britain’s oldest and prettiest breweries and have been since 1794. The only thatched brewery in the UK, Palmers sits adjacent to the river Brit just a mile from Dorset’s Jurassic Coast. All their fine ales are brewed using water from their own naturally rising spring.

Their Head Brewer uses only the finest Maris Otter malt and carefully selected whole leaf hops to produce ales in a way they have been made for generations. The Palmers historic brewhouse has a traditional mash tun, an open top copper, along with top fermentation, this is the way ale should be brewed.

This year, Palmers Brewery celebrated 230 years of brewing in Bridport. They launched their 230th Anniversary ale to coincide with Cask Ale Week 2024. Their 230th Anniversary Ale Trail can be found on CaskFinder.

Steerage Pale Ale by Titanic Brewery
2024-09-25
Our seventh Beer of the Day judge for Cask Ale Week is Andy Slee, Chief Executive of Society of Independent Brewers – SIBA.
His choice is the fantastic Steerage from Titanic Brewery
Andy says:
“A hidden gem. Simply a wonderful light quaffable beer for any occasion”.
Steerage, Titanic Brewery
· ABV: 3.8
· Colour: Golden
· Aroma: Sweet Malt
· Taste: Sweet, Refreshing

Plum Porter by Titanic Brewery
2024-09-26
Our eighth Beer of the Day judge for Cask Ale Week is Kenny Brunton, Co-Founder of Real Ale Finder App
His choice is the fantastic Plum Porter from Titanic Brewery!
Kenny says:
“It’s been our favourite beer for many years and we look out for it and will travel to enjoy some. It’s actually part of the reason we built Real Ale Finder, to find out where it’s on now. In fact many of the Bods are on the app”
🍻Porter, Titanic Brewery🍻
· ABV: 4.9
· Colour: Deep Red
· Aroma: Fruit, Plum, Raisin
· Taste: Plum, Vanilla
Titanic certainly are popular this Cask Ale Week as Steerage was yesterday’s #beeroftheday!

Hook Norton Brewery
2024-09-26 08:00 - 17:00 (Europe/London)
Our 8th Brewery of the Day for National Cask Ale Week 2024 is Hook Norton Brewery.

Hook Norton Brewery is a proudly independent 6th generation family brewery crafting the finest ales, lagers and stouts in Oxfordshire since 1849.

Their real ales are made with four natural ingredients, malted barley, hops, yeast and spring water. Although these ingredients are very simple, in the hands of their skilled Head Brewer, James Clarke, they come together to produce colours, aromas and tastes that make their quality real ale and beers among the most popular in the country.

Well done to Hook Norton!

St Austell Brewery
2024-09-27
Day 9 of Cask Ale Week’s Brewery of the Day is St Austell Brewery.
St Austell produce a range of award-winning beers crafted in our historic brewery that began in 1851. The founder, Walter Hicks mortgaged his farm for £1,500 to set up a new family business in St Austell and it is still family owned to date.
Over the past decade they have won over 250 awards and they credit their success the passion and talent of the exceptional brewing team. Balancing tradition with innovation, the best raw materials and high standards.

Bass
2024-09-27

Arkell's Brewery
2024-09-28
Our 10th Brewery of the Day for National Cask Ale Week 2024 is Arkell’s Brewery.

Arkells Brewery‘s beer is still brewed in much the same way as it was when John Arkell first made it in 1843 and the brewery buildings seem untouched by the passing years. If you speak to any of the staff about the company it is clear that everyone is still as fiercely proud of its local and family roots as John Arkell was himself.

But Arkell’s has not achieved its unique position as Swindon’s oldest company and one of the oldest traditional breweries still operating in Britain today, simply by standing still.

The company has remained true to the principles of loyalty, quality and tradition set down by its founder 180 years ago, but it has also adapted brilliantly to the changing world around it. Some things never change at Arkell’s, but it is the ability to change effectively when change is necessary that has been at the cornerstone of the brewery’s success story over the last 180 years.

Hophead by Dark Star
2024-09-28
Our tenth Beer of the Day judge for Cask Ale Week is Michael Clack, Brand Ambassador.

His choice is the fantastic Hophead from Dark Star Brewing Co.

Mark says:

“As a lover of the tradition of cask ale and also hop forward craft beers, Hophead is both in 1 glass. In a world of Amber Ales, a Golden Ale packed full of cascade hops really wakes up the taste buds!”

Hophead, Dark Star

· ABV: 4.9
· Colour: Straw
· Aroma: Floral, Citrus, Fruit
· Taste: Hop, Fruit

Greene King Brewery
2024-09-29
Our 11th and last Brewery of the Day for National Cask Ale Week 2024 is Greene King Brewery.

Greene King Brewery has been crafting quality beers from its historic breweries in Bury St Edmunds and Dunbar for over 200 years and is the #1 Cask Ale brewer in the UK.

The Westgate brewery, in Bury St Edmunds, has been the home of Greene King since 1799 and its leading cask ales are brewed here, including Greene King IPA, Old Speckled Hen and Abbot Ale, as well as a broad range of seasonal and speciality beers.

The Belhaven Brewery is nestled in Dunbar on the beautiful East Lothian coast. As Scotland’s oldest working brewery, established in 1719, Belhaven brews several nation favourites, including Belhaven 80 Shilling.

Skull Attack by BRAINS Brewery
2024-09-29
Our final beer for Cask Ale Week is Skull Attack from Brains Brewery — perfect as we get into the spooky spirit of autumn and Halloween! Keep an eye out for Skull Attack making a chilling appearance in a pub near you. A devilishly good brew to enjoy as the nights draw in!

Who’s ready for a taste of this frightfully good beer?
