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.
6.1/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
500ml bottle, Bowes Christmas Market. Golden amber colour, white foam head and malty, yeasty aroma. Taste is malt, some caramel, followed by watery yeast and remaining slighty drying, citric with lingering sharp bitterness. Medium bodied, medium carbonation, dry bitter finish. OK
Tried
from Bottle
on 18 Dec 2016
at 10:38
5.4/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 5
Texture 6
Overall 5.5
500ml bottle, Bowes Christmas Market. Dark brown ruby colour, white foam head and sour mash malty type aroma. Very malty with a little bitterness followed by deep earthy yeast and remaining slighty sweetish. Medium bodied, medium carbonation, lingering light bitter finish. OK.
Tried
from Bottle
on 18 Dec 2016
at 10:34
6.5/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Cask (gravity) @ NWAF 2015, National Winter Ales Festival (2015), The Roundhouse, Pride Park, Derby, Derbyshire, England, DE24 8JE. [ As Darwin Java Jolt ].ABV: 5.0%. Clear medium brown amber color with a small to average, frothy, good lacing, mostly diminishing, off-white head. Aroma is moderate malty, roasted, sweet malt, sweet chocolate - coffee, toffee, sweet coffee. Flavor is moderate sweet and light bitter with a average to long duration, chocolate, sweet malt, caramel, vanilla, sweet coffee. Body is medium, texture is watery to oily, carbonation is soft to flat. [20150212] 6-3-7-3-13
Tried
from Cask
on 15 Nov 2016
at 05:22
6.2/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 7
Cask at the Craven Arms - Brum. Pours clear gold with a foamy white. The nose has grains, white bread, faint citrus. Light sweet flavor with more grainy malts, light bitter hay, orange rind. Light bodied with fine carbonation. Moderately sweet on the finish with some straw, white bread, aged citrus, ple grains. So so.
Tried
from Cask
on 05 Mar 2016
at 13:07
6/10
Tried
on 05 Mar 2016
at 12:30
6.4/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Cask at the cravern arms. Clear golden yellow coloured pour with a lasting g stodgy white head. Aroma is sweet grains, honey, hay. Flavour is grainy, honey, ceraral. Grai. Husks, ,.palate is semi sweet. Moderate carbonation, husks. Tangy apple.
Tried
from Cask
on 05 Mar 2016
at 12:25
5.5/10
—
Appearance 4
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 4
Overall 6
Refrigerated 12 oz. brown bottle poured into a glass. Dark brown with no head. Roasty dark malt, medium body, low carbonation, and no lacing. Taste is roasted malt.
Tried
from Bottle
on 10 Sep 2015
at 19:48
6.8/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
12fl.oz. bottle. (As Original Flag Porter) Pours an opaque, dark brown with a thin, beige head. Sweet aroma of roasted malt with dark chocolate and coffee. Sweet flavour of roasted malt, liquorice, dark chocolate and coffee with a mildly dry, bitter finish. Medium body with a watery texture and soft to flat carbonation.
Tried
from Bottle
on 27 Aug 2015
at 22:50
6.5/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Old rating. Bottle from old town. Shaker pint. Black with a small tan head. Aromas of roasted malts, coffee and peat. Thin body with a smooth watery mouthfeel. Soft carbonation like a flat soda. As it warms some chocolate and dark fruit come out.
Tried
from Bottle
on 31 May 2015
at 18:58
8/10
Tried
on 17 Feb 2015
at 15:40