Thurston's Brewery
Microbrewery
in
Horsell,
Surrey,
England 🏴
Associated Venue: Crown (Thurston's)
Established in 2012
Closed in 2026
Contact
102C High St, Horsell, GU21 4ST, England
Description
Thurstons Brewery was formed at the Crown in Horsell in October 2012 with a 3/4 barrel plant in the kitchen. The original plan was to produce an occasional brew for the Crown, but we were asked if we would supply Woking Beer Festival with our first beer, Stedmans Ale, a request that we gladly agreed to. The result of the Festival was our first award - third overall. Now we had the bug. More beers followed starting with Maltway, then Festival, Milk Stout, Horsell Gold and Horsell Best!!!!
The VanHorsell Gold and Horsell Best soon become our mainstay beers, and along with Milk Stout and Festival Ale, keeping up with demand soon became a problem. In November 2013 we returned to Woking Beer Festival with two beers this time - Horsell Gold and Milk Stout, and were delighted when both beers won their class, Gold took first overall and Milk Stout took second. Milk Stout also went on to win the Gosport Winterfest. Subsequently, plans were hatched to install a 4.5 barrel plant next door to the pub at 102c High Street.
Work started in January 2014 and on the 7th February we removed part of the roof and lowered the copper and mash tun into the building. The fermentation vessels didn’t arrive until 31st March, but as we had had these made for us, they were oval in shape and so were able to fit through the window with the help of a few of the regulars from the Crown. After much wiring, plumbing and swearing and a few dry runs, the first brew was completed on the 9th May 2014.
The VanHorsell Gold and Horsell Best soon become our mainstay beers, and along with Milk Stout and Festival Ale, keeping up with demand soon became a problem. In November 2013 we returned to Woking Beer Festival with two beers this time - Horsell Gold and Milk Stout, and were delighted when both beers won their class, Gold took first overall and Milk Stout took second. Milk Stout also went on to win the Gosport Winterfest. Subsequently, plans were hatched to install a 4.5 barrel plant next door to the pub at 102c High Street.
Work started in January 2014 and on the 7th February we removed part of the roof and lowered the copper and mash tun into the building. The fermentation vessels didn’t arrive until 31st March, but as we had had these made for us, they were oval in shape and so were able to fit through the window with the help of a few of the regulars from the Crown. After much wiring, plumbing and swearing and a few dry runs, the first brew was completed on the 9th May 2014.
6.4/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Cask at the Crown, Horsell. Pale chestnut with a tight beige head that laces the glass nicely; biscuity malt aroma; biscuity malt taste with some caramel; then a dry finish with a light woody bitterness. An old fashioned bitter, very drinkable.
Tried
from Cask
on 09 Jul 2016
at 07:49
6.5/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6
Cask at the Jolly Sailor, Farnham. An opaque deep tawny brown colour with a ring of cream head; aroma of well roasted chocolate malts; soft and sweet in the mouth with a chocolatey taste, but rather thin; then a creamy finish, with a drinking chocolate aftertaste.
Tried
from Cask
on 06 Jun 2016
at 08:33
6.2/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Cask at the Crown, Horsell. Straw with a thin cream head; lemony aroma; soft soapy texture with a pleasant citrus bitterness; and a bready finish. A straightforward and refreshing golden ale.
Tried
from Cask
on 12 Jan 2016
at 04:30
6.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Cask at the Crown, Horsell. A clear straw pour with a tight off-white head; aroma of damp straw and lemon; soft and grainy in the mouth, slightly sour with some citrus peel and a gently bitter finish. Excatly what I’d expect from a Saison.
Tried
from Cask
on 04 Jan 2016
at 08:40
6.6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Black colour, white head. Roasted aroma, caramel and malts. Sweet malty flavour, milk chocolate, vanilla. Sweet finish, chocolate.
(from draught @ GBBF ’14, London, day 2)
(from draught @ GBBF ’14, London, day 2)
Tried
on 09 Nov 2015
at 03:35
6/10
Tried
on 24 Aug 2015
at 15:43
7.5/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7
At GBBF. Thurstons Milk Stout 4.50% A deep brown/black pour with a tan head. The nose is lovely sweet milky chocolate. Smooth bodied & creamy. The taste is bitter cocoa powder and coffee creamer. Great.
Tried
on 15 Aug 2015
at 05:11
7/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 4
Overall 8
At GBBF. American-influenced milk stout with creamy, light beige, thick head and near black colour. Aroma of espresso, cocoa, milk sugar piercing through here and there, iron. Creamy mouthfeel as usual for the style, dark fruits, caramel accent, bit metallic, some coffeeish roasted malt bitterness in the finish along with peppery hops to round it off. Perhaps a bit thin in texture for a milk stout, but the taste is more than decent.
Tried
from Can
on 13 Aug 2015
at 19:04
6.3/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Cask (gravity) @ EBF18 2014, 18th Egham Beer Festival, Egham United Services Club (EUSC), 111 Spring Rise, Egham, Surrey, England TW20 9PE. [ As Thurstons Horsell Gold ].Clear medium yellow orange color with a small to average frothy - fizzy, good lacing, mostly lasting - diminishing, off-white head. Aroma is moderate malty, fruity malt, light to moderate yeasty, UK yeast - fermentet malt - mash, vomit notes. Flavor is moderate sweet and light moderate bitter with a long duration, fruity, citrus, flowers. Body is medium, texture is oily to watery, carbonation is soft to flat. [20140807]
Tried
from Cask
on 16 May 2015
at 04:05
6.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 5
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 5.5
Gravity dispense at EBF XX, EUSC, 02/04/15. Rich chestnut brown/amber topped with a decent beige swirl. Nose is toffe, light spice, biscuit, dark fruit rinds. Taste comprises biscuit malt, liqourice, dark fruit rinds, toffee. Medium bodied, moderate carbonation, semi drying close with light bitterings. Ok bitter.
Tried
on 24 Apr 2015
at 17:20