Fuller's Brewery

Infobox Brewery
name = Fuller, Smith and Turner PLC


caption =
location = Chiswick, London, United Kingdom
owner =
opened = 1845
production = 290304 UK barrels (in 2005)

Fuller's (Fuller, Smith and Turner plc) (lse|FSTA) is a regional brewing company founded in 1845 at the Griffin Brewery in Chiswick, West London. [ [http://www.fullers.co.uk/ir/History The Full History of Fuller's Brewery and its pubs and beers ] ] Fuller's distribute bottled beers internationally.

Fuller's bought and closed Gales Brewery, the Horndean, Hampshire brewer in 2005 for £91.8 million. This increased the number of tied houses owned by Fuller's by 111.

History

Beer has been brewed on the site of the Griffin Brewery in Chiswick for over 350 years, since the time of Oliver Cromwell. The partnership of Fuller, Smith & Turner was formed in 1845 by John Bird Fuller, Henry Smith and John Turner. Members of founding families are still involved in the business to this day.

Fuller’s is best known as the brewer of London Pride, the UK’s leading premium cask ale, but also brews many other award-winning ales such as Chiswick Bitter, ESB and 1845. Three of Fuller’s beers - London Pride, ESB and Chiswick Bitter - have been named as the Champion Beer of Britain, a record unmatched by any other brewer. Fuller’s ale range now also includes Discovery, a blonde beer launched in 2005.

Also in 2005, Fuller’s completed the purchase of George Gale & Co. of Horndean, Hampshire, brewers of beers such as HSB, Butser and Prize Old Ale. The purchase included 111 pubs, bringing Fuller’s estate to 363 quality pubs, bars and hotels.

Anthony Fuller was the founding chairman of the Independent Family Brewers of Britain.

The purchase of Gale's Horndean caused some concern, particularly from Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), and members of the local community. Although stating at the time of purchase that they were open-minded about the future of Gales, Fullers was suspected of having no intention of keeping the historic brewery open. Indeed, after a few months of 'review' it was announced that the brewery was to close. Some, but not all Gales brands have transferred to Chiswick. No reference to Fullers is made on the pumpclips.

Griffin brewery

As well as the range of beers, Fuller's brewery is famous for having the oldest wisteria plant in the UK, planted in the early 19th century.

Products

Fuller's brand

Fuller's has a number of regular brands:

*Fuller's "ESB" (Extra Special Bitter) is a strong bitter. ESB has won CAMRA's Best Strong Ale award on seven separate occasions, more times than any other beer. The beer was rebranded from its old black and red livery, to the current blue and gold in late 2004 in an attempt to shake off its reputation as a very strong beer. It is sold in both 5.5% cask conditioned form as well as pasteurised at 5.9% in bottles and kegs.
*Fuller's "London Pride", the company’s flagship brand, is a mahogany coloured best bitter. The beer is best known in England in its 4.1% cask conditioned form, but is also sold worldwide in 4.7% pasteurised bottles.
*Fuller's "Golden Pride" is a barley wine. At 8.3%, it is the strongest beer in the Fuller's range, and one of the strongest beers widely available in the UK. It is sold in pasteurised 50cl bottles in most Fuller's tied houses, and some UK supermarkets.
*Fuller's "Organic Honey Dew" is a golden ale brewed with entirely organic ingredients. As well as malt and hops, it is also brewed with honey, giving it a slightly sweet taste. It is widely available in the UK in pasteurised 50 cl bottles, and is available in keg form (formerly cask) all year round in many Fuller's tied houses.
*Fuller's "1845" is a strong Bottle-conditioned beer. It was first brewed in 1995 to celebrate Fuller's 150th anniversary. 1845 is also available in Fuller's tied houses as a seasonal cask ale.
*Fuller's "Chiswick Bitter" is a 3.5% cask conditioned ordinary or session bitter and sold in most Fuller's tied houses.
*Fuller's "London Porter". London Porter is available in pasteurised 50 cl bottles and in Fuller's tied houses as a seasonal cask ale.
*Fuller's "IPA" is a premium bitter produced mostly for export to the United States but also sold seasonally in the United Kingdom in Fuller's tied houses as a cask ale and in 500ml bottles.
*Fuller's "Vintage Ale" is a vintage bottle conditioned ale. Each year’s brew is roughly based on Golden Pride, but with minor changes in the recipe. It is generally released around Christmas, and has been made since 1997.
*Fuller's "Hock" is a dark mild available in Fuller's tied houses as a seasonal cask ale.
*Fuller's "Discovery" is a blonde ale first brewed in 2005, and sold cask conditioned year round and in 50cl pasteurised bottles.
*Fuller’s "Summer Ale" is a seasonal blonde ale sold during the summer months both in casks and in 50cl pasteurised bottles.
*Fuller's "Jack Frost" is a seasonal ale sold flavoured with blackberries. It is available as a seasonal cask conditioned ale, and in pasteurised 50 cl bottles in the winter. It was introduced in 2000.
*Fuller's "Red Fox" is a ruby coloured seasonal ale introduced in 1999, and flavoured with toasted oats. It is available as a seasonal cask conditioned ale.
*Fuller's "Pale Ale" is a pasturised pale ale available in 275ml bottles in most Fullers tied houses.
*Fuller's "Old Winter Ale" is a dark seasonal ale sold during winter in 50cl bottles.
*Fuller's "Mr Harry" is a deep-amber coloured bitter.

Gales brand

There are a number of beers brewed under the George Gales name in Chiswick:

* Gales' HSB (Horndean Special Bitter) is a cask conditioned 4.8% premium strength bitter.
* Gales' Butser is a 3.4% cask conditioned bitter named after the dominant hill in the downs close to the former Gales' brewery at Horndean.
* Gales' Festival Mild is a 4.8% cask conditioned premium strength mild ale, first brewed as a special for a 1990 beer festival with the aim of helping to revive mild ales . Healthy sales quickly saw it become a regular Gales brand.
* Gales' Prize Old Ale is a 9% bottle conditioned beer, sold in a corked bottle.
* Gales' Swing Low is a 4.1 % bitter brewed seasonally around England rugby tornaments
* Gales' Trafalgar is a 4.3% seasonal ale brewed to celebrate the 200th Trafalgar Day
* Gales' Seafarers is a 4.5% ale where a donation from every sale is given to the "King George Fund for Sailors"
* Gales' Winter Brew is a 4.2% winter ale with which is very similar to Prize Old Ale

References

External links

* [http://www.fullers.co.uk/ Fuller's website]
* [http://www.fullers-ales.com/ Fuller's Ales - North America]
* [http://www.ratebeer.com/brewers/fullers/55/ Brewery profile] from [http://www.ratebeer.com Ratebeer.com]
* [http://www.fullerscanary.com/ London Pride in the Canary Islands]
* [http://www.fullers.si/ Fuller's beers (pivo) in Slovenia]