About
Started in September 2001 by Philip Darby and Niven Balfour. The Nottingham Brewery is situated at the rear of the Plough Inn, Radford, Nottingham. It is a ten barrel plant that was formerly installed in a Firkin pub in Romford.
The Nottingham Brewery can be traced back to 1847, when James Long was listed as an ‘East India and Pale Ale Brewer’ on the site. James Long sold the business in 1875 and after passing through several ownerships it was purchased in 1879 by Edward Wheeler Field. Nottingham Brewery soon established itself as the city’s main brewery, serving fine ales to local citizens from its expanding estate of public houses, including The Plough Inn in Radford. After its closure by then owners Whitbread after the second world war, the name remained dormant. In 2001 it was resurrected by Philip Darby and Niven Balfour.
The Nottingham Brewery can be traced back to 1847, when James Long was listed as an ‘East India and Pale Ale Brewer’ on the site. James Long sold the business in 1875 and after passing through several ownerships it was purchased in 1879 by Edward Wheeler Field. Nottingham Brewery soon established itself as the city’s main brewery, serving fine ales to local citizens from its expanding estate of public houses, including The Plough Inn in Radford. After its closure by then owners Whitbread after the second world war, the name remained dormant. In 2001 it was resurrected by Philip Darby and Niven Balfour.
6.6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 6.5
Texture 7
Overall 6.5
Sample at the Hallcross on cask.
Medium creamy white head. Clear golden pour. Light bitterness
Medium creamy white head. Clear golden pour. Light bitterness
Tried
from Cask
at
Hallcross
on 07 Jul 2025
at 09:35
6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Sample from cask at the Hallcross.
Medium creamy white head. Clear golden pour. Light bitterness
Medium creamy white head. Clear golden pour. Light bitterness
Tried
from Cask
at
Hallcross
on 17 Jun 2025
at 17:22
4.3/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 4
Flavor 4
Texture 4
Overall 4
Tried
from Cask
on 10 Jun 2025
at 20:33
6/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 5.5
Flavor 6.5
Texture 6
Overall 5.5
AS PROMPTED – A RERATE : Cask at Moon Under Water, Wolverhampton. Pours golden brown with minimal off-white head and good lacing. There’s malts and caramel in the aroma plus hints of floral hops. In the mouth it is quite bitter with traditional hops, barley sugar and pepper plus traces of autumn fruits. Hints of nuts and ginger come later. Finish has a little bitterness – though reduced from the start. This is reasonable.
ORIGINAL REVIEW : Cask at Old Dolphin, Derby. Pours “bitter brown” with minimal head. The aroma is mainly dried fruit. In the mouth it is bitter with malt and fruit. I had a few goes at nailing the exact taste. Tried barley sugar, nuts and parsnips before settling on Werthers Original sweets ! A bit weird to say the least – maybe it was going off ? Will have to rerate when I see it again. [ Original Rating 4.8 ]
ORIGINAL REVIEW : Cask at Old Dolphin, Derby. Pours “bitter brown” with minimal head. The aroma is mainly dried fruit. In the mouth it is bitter with malt and fruit. I had a few goes at nailing the exact taste. Tried barley sugar, nuts and parsnips before settling on Werthers Original sweets ! A bit weird to say the least – maybe it was going off ? Will have to rerate when I see it again. [ Original Rating 4.8 ]
Tried
from Cask
at
Moon Under Water (JDW)
on 09 Jun 2025
at 13:51
4.8/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 4
Flavor 5.5
Texture 5
Overall 4
6/6/2025. Cask at The 20th Braintree Real Ale Festival. Aroma is stewed, starchy, earthy, musty fruits. Drying straw bitterness. Not keen.
Tried
from Cask
on 06 Jun 2025
at 13:16
4/10
Tried
from Cask
on 06 Jun 2025
at 13:13
6.6/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 7
Overall 5.5
Cask handpull at County Hotel JDW Ashford. Clear mid brown colour lasting ivory head. Malty bitter. Smooth in the mouth. Moderate bitterness on the finish. Brown malty flavour. Some white hop pepper. Light yeast presence. Some mod fruits. OK
Tried
from Cask
at
County Hotel
on 25 May 2025
at 12:09
6.8/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Large foamy off white head on a finely carbonated chestnut coloured body.
Toffee, spice & malt aroma.
Medium bodied, soft with a tingle on the back before a cloying aft.
Tobacco,malt, biscuit, bready & red berry tastes with a bitter lightly hopped finish.
Well balanced & tasty
Toffee, spice & malt aroma.
Medium bodied, soft with a tingle on the back before a cloying aft.
Tobacco,malt, biscuit, bready & red berry tastes with a bitter lightly hopped finish.
Well balanced & tasty
Tried
from Bottle
on 29 Apr 2025
at 19:01
Tried
from Cask
at
Raven
on 22 Apr 2025
at 11:51