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.
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.
4.2/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 3
Texture 4
Overall 4
500ml bottle from Asda. Gold very thin white head. Grassy hop aroma. Not too bad in mouth,bit thin on flavours bit of toffee syrup. Bit of hop on end. Not awful, but it does feel a bit like an ale. Not any noticeable vomit. Fine.
Tried
from Bottle
on 04 Nov 2006
at 06:37
7.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Bottle, Picked up by friend in Asda 22-09-06. Amber coloured beer that gives a fruity aroma, possibly citrusy this was also much in evidence in the flavour very fruity and hoppy nice clean and crisp tasting beer.
Tried
from Bottle
on 23 Sep 2006
at 03:26
7/10
—
Appearance 10
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Bottle: a deep strwat colour with a dense white head, well carbonated. Citrus aroma, citrus taste with a touch of hops, prickly mouthfeel, some sitrus aftertase. Excellent. And there’s a mention of ratebeer.com on the label!
Tried
from Bottle
on 13 Sep 2006
at 03:25
6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
It is unfortunate they couldn’t do a better beer with such a cool story behind it. Aroma has some light fruit and roasted malt. The beer is brown and I can’t detect any sediment. Roasted grains in the flavor, and a very light aftertaste of the same that does last a long time.
Tried
from Can
on 09 Sep 2006
at 14:39
6.5/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 7
5.3% ABV
Golden color. Nice aroma, with hop and honey. Dry mouthfell, some malt, toffee, strong bitterness, quite good hopping.
Golden color. Nice aroma, with hop and honey. Dry mouthfell, some malt, toffee, strong bitterness, quite good hopping.
Tried
on 30 Aug 2006
at 04:25
6.4/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Pour is a almost black a small amount of light shows through. Aroma is some chocolate with a bit of hops in there. Flavor is there in a nice way Lots of chocolate and coffee with some vanilla in there. Leaves a burnt flavoring on the tounge. $2 a 11 oz bottle is kinda pricy but this is to tasty to pass up.
Tried
from Bottle
on 11 Aug 2006
at 20:27
6.5/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6
500ml bottle from Asda. Well done SilkTork for adding this. Amber colour with thin lasting white head. Goodish aromatic hop. Peppery, some grapefruit from the Amarillo hops. Some juicy malts in mouth, but a bit thin with tart hops and grapefruit on the end. Slightly dusty finish. Nice though. Belies its strength.
Tried
from Bottle
on 24 Jul 2006
at 07:32
7.2/10
—
Appearance 10
Aroma 6
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 7
Dark brown with a nice, frothy tan head that lasted the entire glass. Tastes of coffee, roasted malts, nutty, and bittersweet. A bit thin, but solid flavor overall.
Tried
on 03 May 2006
at 15:54
6.1/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Amber color; creamy head. Herbal hop aroma. Medium body, strong bitterness and some light aromatic hop. Quite pleasant.
Tried
on 18 Dec 2005
at 13:06
7.9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 10
Overall 7.5
Cask at Market Porter, London
Hazy dark amber color. Very nice malty aroma, a bit fruity. Also the taste is malty, quite round, caramel, and very well hopped. The aromatic hop leads all through the final. Excellent.
Hazy dark amber color. Very nice malty aroma, a bit fruity. Also the taste is malty, quite round, caramel, and very well hopped. The aromatic hop leads all through the final. Excellent.
Tried
from Cask
on 11 Dec 2005
at 15:56