S43 Brewery

Microbrewery in Durham, Durham, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
Associated Venue: Toronto Lodge (Sonnet 43)

Established in 2012

Closed in 2022

Contact
Coxhoe, Durham, DH6 4HX, England
Description
Changed name from Sonnet 43 to S43 in 2019.

We started life back in 2012, focusing on developing our own British Style Cask Ales out of Country Durham based Brew House.

Back then we were known as Sonnet 43 back then (inspired by the Victorian poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning, who was born and raised in Coxhoe, County Durham, the village our brewery calls home).

Three years into our brewing, in 2015 we had doubled production year on year and expanded our team and range of ales, including the award winning Raven and Aurora.

Another three busy years of brewing our beloved Cask Ales and, we noticed a change in our palettes. Whilst, we were still chugging cask specials at a rate of knots, we were getting excited by some of the more hop-forward flavours from over the pond.

This is when we got in touch with the Texan, to come and develop the craft arm of the brewery.

Brewing ceased at the end of 2022.

     Show


6.8/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 7
Can shared in London - thanks to Kenny. Pours mostly clear yellow-gold with a small, creamy white head. Medium sweet, bit sugary, some peach, melon, low acidity. Medium bodied with spritzy carbonation. Lightly tart finish, sweet citrus fruits. Novel.
Tried from Can on 24 Nov 2022 at 20:30

7/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 7
Can at the columbus tasting 24/11/2022. Many thanks to Kenny for this one. A translucent golden orange coloured pour with a fine off white head. Aroma is semi sweet, light floury wheat, fine orange, chalky, orange, dusty, Flavour is composed of semi sweet, super tangy, pasionfruit, bitter orange, zesty, pineapple, . Palate is tangy sour, moderate frothy,
Tried from Can on 24 Nov 2022 at 20:11

7/10
Tried on 24 Nov 2022 at 20:04

7.2/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 7
24th November 2020
Can. Thanks to me. Hazy gold beer, big fluffy cream colour head. Airy palate, mildly dry, decent fine carbonation. Fluffy malts, mildly sweet. A mildly tart cakey vibe, kinda vanilla and bright berry fruits with a modest lemony tartness on the finish. Amusing, could be bolder in the cake department.
Tried from Can on 24 Nov 2022 at 19:58

6.8/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 6 Flavor 6.5 Texture 8 Overall 6.5
Can split at the Level 6 Tasting, thanks to Kenneth, 24/11/2022.
Deep orange to golden with an off white head.
Nose is sweet malts, lactic tickle, marshmallow.
Taste comprises apricot, vanilla, sweet edged, lactic tang.
Medium bodied, fine carbonation, semi drying close with a modest puckering effect.
So so - not for me ... to sweet and not enough sour.
Tried on 24 Nov 2022 at 00:00

7.8/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 8
440ml can from S43. Hazy pale golden colour, big foamy white head leaving lacing and aroma of tropical fruit, lemon-lime citrus, zesty, pine. Taste is sweetish malt, caramel, fruity, lime zest, grapefruit, pine, with mellow hop bitterness. Medium bodied, soft carbonation, dry fruity hoppy bitter finish. Nicely drinkable.
Tried from Can on 20 Nov 2022 at 19:41

7.5/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 8
440ml can from S43. Murky yellow gold colour, big foam white head leaving lacing and aroma of tropical fruits, mango, oats. Taste is sweet, juicy tropical fruit, mango, oats, with orangey citrus and tangy hop bitterness. Medium bodied, soft carbonation, dry spicy hop bitter finish. Nicely drinkable.
Tried from Can on 20 Nov 2022 at 19:19

7/10
Tried from Draft at Taplokaal Gist on 20 Nov 2022 at 17:09

7.4/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
44cl can. A black beer with a beige head. Aroma of roasted dark malt, chocolate, some coffee. Taste of roasted bitter dark malt, dark mild bitter chocolate, some coffee. Full body.
Tried from Can on 15 Nov 2022 at 22:45

7.2/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 8
44cl can. A clear deep golden beer with a off-white head. Aroma of strong juicy hops, some pine, citrus. Taste of mild juicy hops, apricot, citrus, some grapefruit, strong malty body. High bitterness.
Tried from Can on 15 Nov 2022 at 20:50