Darwin Brewery

Microbrewery in Sunderland, Tyne & Wear, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
Owned by Three Kings Brewery

Established in 1997

Contact
Unit 1, West Quay Court, Sunderland Enterprise Park, Sunderland, SR5 2TE, England
Description
Established in 1997 Darwin Brewery has grown steadily to become one of the most respected micro-breweries in the north of England.

Darwin’s first beers were produced on a very small 18 gallon system based at Brewlab at the University of Sunderland. Three years later the brewery expanded to Crook, County Durham with the acquisition of the Hodge’s Brewery and brewed there until 2002 when two factors resulted in a move back to Sunderland.

Firstly continued growth and popularity of the beers meant space was a problem at the Crook plant with production stretched almost to capacity. Secondly, and perhaps even more important was that the recent closure of the Vaux brewery had left the city without a brewery for the first time in over one hundred years.

In Autumn 2022 the brewery was taken over by Three Kings Brewery Ltd and all production moved there. Darwin and Three Kings operate independently, producing separate ranges of beers and Gav Sutherland remains Head Brewer of Darwin. Darwin’s core beers and seasonal offerings are available around the North East.

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7.4/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
Bottled@SBWF2007. Very dark reddish brown murky colour, small brown head. Aroma is leathery, roasted malts and some slight earthy notes. Flavour is winous, a bit roasted and some coffeeish notes. Some slight spicyness also noteable once it warms up a bit.
Tried from Bottle on 01 Oct 2007 at 11:51

7/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 7
Bottled@SBWF2007. Golden colour, mediumsized creamy head. Aroma is big amarillo and some other hoppy/fruity notes. Also has some grassy notes. Flavour is amarillo, some grass and a bit caramel and wood.
Tried from Bottle on 01 Oct 2007 at 11:47

8/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 8
Bottled@SBWF2007. Deep amber colour, mediumsized white head. Aroma is really pleasantly roasted malts, some hoppy bitterness along with mild woodenness. Flavour is quite much the same. The roast stays really long and also has some mild candyish hints.
Tried from Bottle on 01 Oct 2007 at 11:43

6.8/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 7
Bottled@SBWF2007. Deep brown colour, mediumsized beige head. Aroma is malts, caramel and some earth. Flavour is slight caramel malts, some earthyness and hops. A quite pleasant brown ale.
Tried from Bottle on 01 Oct 2007 at 11:37

5.6/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 5 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 5.5
Bottled at Stockholm Beer Festival. Brownish amber. Aroma of raspberries and molasses. Fairly sweet and medium bodied with dusty wort flavour. Lightly perfumy and roasty. Some paper in a finish with low-medium bitterness.
Tried from Bottle on 28 Sep 2007 at 06:00

7.5/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 7
Bottled at Stockholm Beer Festival. Clear golden, small head. Sweet and softly malty. Medium bodied and fruity with lots of grapefruity hops. Gold balance between American hops and creamy malt. Long bitter finish.
Tried from Bottle on 28 Sep 2007 at 05:56

7.2/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 7
(Bottle, Stockholm Beer Festival, 22 Sep 2007) Dark amber, leather colour with brief, off-white head. Fruity, malty nose with roasted grain and slightly smoky notes. Malty, slightly grainy taste with dark fruit, wild berries and balanced notes of dusty hops. Rather pale for a porter, quite different but enjoyable.
Tried from Bottle on 25 Sep 2007 at 14:29

6.3/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 6 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 6
(Bottle at Stockholm Beer Festival 2007) Clear dark brown color, acidic scent. Malty and metallic taste. Spritzy mouthfeel. Low bitterness.
Tried from Bottle on 23 Sep 2007 at 02:16

6.3/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 6 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 6
Cask (handpump) @ GBBF 2007, London. Clear dark yellow to light orange color with a small, fizzy, fair lacing, mostly lasting, off-white head. Aroma is moderate malty, toasted, light hoppy, flowers, citrus, fruit. Flavor is moderate sweet and bitter with a average duration and a nice dry finish. Body is light to medium, texture is watery, carbonation is flat.
Tried from Cask on 11 Sep 2007 at 01:49

6/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 5 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 6
Cask@GBBF2007. Golden colour with mediumsized white head. Aroma is nectar, wood and some honey. Flavour is really hoppy and grassy. Rather caramelly and sweet, but still giving a nice bitterness to it.
Tried from Cask on 03 Sep 2007 at 00:14