During the cask ale Renaissance in the late 1980’s, a decision was made by the then owners of the Brunswick Inn (Trevor Harris and John Evans) to build an extension to the Inn, itself built back in 1840. Construction was started in 1990, and the following year the Brunswick Inn regained its long lost original capacity to produce its own beer.
A traditional tower style brewery built over three levels, great care was taken to keep the brewery in keeping with the history of the Inn, with lines of windows and stonework following through into the extension. The plant itself was installed in April 1991, and on the 11th June 1991 production of Brunswick Brewing Company beer began. A 10 imperial barrel brewery (16hls), the plant brews roughly twice per week, and currently has 7 core beers, including one from it’s popular ‘Engine Shed Project’ craft range. As well as the core, the brewery also produces several new and seasonal beers every year, and occasionally re-brews a recipe from the Brunswick breweries many past brews
Aside from being the main producer of the Brunswick Inn’s ales, the brewery also producers beer for the estate of Everards brewery of Leicester (the land owner of The Brunswick Inn), as well as the local free trade and beer festivals. In 2018, the Brunswick brewery was very glad to welcome the Dead Poets Inn, Derbyshire, into the Brunswick family. With all this, the Brunswick Brewing Company has established itself up and down the country, and has collected many awards for its ale, from local festival awards to national recognition.
The Brunswick Brewing Co is currently run by long-time head brewer James Salmon, who along with the pubs tenants Alan Pickersgill and Philippe Larroche, both award winning licensees, are working to maintain the Brunswick Inn and Brewing Company as one of the premier brew pubs in the country, and the Dead Poets Inn as one of the best countryside cask ale houses in Derbyshire.
Cask. Pours lightly unclear orangey brown with no head whatsoever. A little dried fruit and wood in the nose. Light body - almost watery - roasted malt accents and dried fruit. Very subdued bitterness. 170110
Cask at the Brunswick, Derby. Copper with a ring of white head; fruity aroma; intense tropical fruit flavour with pineapple and mango, but not too sweet overall; the finish has a peppery bitterness. A pleasant sip.
Cask at the Hobgoblin, Reading. Amber with a dense cream head; fruity malt aroma; interestingly spicy flavour with ginger and pepper over full fruity malts; dry finish. Unusual to find a Brunswick beer so far from home.
Cask, gravity at Merton Summer Beer and Cider Festival, 17-07-09 Pours dark brown in colour, light beige head. Some coffee on the nose, and nice fruitiness wafts off. Nice tanginess comes through, easy drinking, decent mild. A6 A4 F7 P4 Ov13 3.4
Cask handpull at The Brunswick, Derby. Gold/orange colour with thin off white head. Some biscuit, some syrup, some condition. It’s got a bit of popcorn, not quite right. Called Triple Hop, so must have around 3 hop flowers put into it. Bit of butter on finish. Not for me.
Cask gravity at White Cliffs BF 09. Thick dark, dark brown with very thin beige head. Some thickness in mouth, some choc, some dark fruit. Some dryness. Good thick mouthfeel.
Cask at the Brunswick, Derby. Slightly hazy gold with a thin white head; citrus aroma; citrus flavour combined with a wheaty body; sweet and acidic finish.
Cask at the Brunswick, Derby. Almost black with a ruby tint and a thin cream head; sour fruit aroma with damson and cherries; sweet vinous fruit flavours, with chewy sultanas; a dry roasted finish with licorice and leather. Very pleasing.