Fuller, Smith and Turner
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A selection of Fullers beer bottles |
Fuller, Smith and Turner plc () is the full name of the brewery company better known simply as
Fuller's. They brew a range of
cask ales at the Griffin Brewery in
Chiswick, West
London. As well as the range of beers, Fuller's brewery is famous for having the oldest
wisteria plant in the UK, planted in the early 19th century.
As of 8th November 2005 it was announced that Fuller's were offering, and were certain of success in that offer, to buy
Gales Brewery, a Hampshire brewer. This will increase the number of tied houses owned by Fuller's by 111. However it has caused some concern, particularly from
Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), that it will spell the end of many of Gale's beers and brewing at the Gale's
Horndean brewery. The deal itself was worth £91.8 million.
The company has a number of regular brands:
*Fuller's
ESB (Extra Special Bitter) is a strong bitter. ESB has won CAMRA's Best Strong Ale award on seven separate occasions, more times than any other beer. The beer was rebranded from its old black and red livery, to the current blue and gold (at least in the UK - the label has apparently not changed in bottles of ESB sold in North America) in late 2004 in an attempt to shake off its reputation as a very strong beer.
*Fuller's
London Pride, the company's flagship brand, is a
mahogany coloured best
bitter. The beer is best known in England in its 4.1%
cask conditioned form, but is also sold worldwide in 4.7% pasteurised bottles.
*Fuller's
Golden Pride is a
barley wine. At 8.3%, it is the strongest beer in the Fuller's range, and one of the strongest beers widely available in the
UK. It is sold in pasteurised 50cl bottles in most Fuller's
tied houses, and some UK
supermarkets.
*Fuller's
Organic Honey Dew is a
golden ale brewed with entirely
organic ingredients. As well as malt and hops, it is also brewed with honey, giving it a slightly sweet taste. It is widely available in the UK in pasteurised 50 cl bottles, and is available in keg form all year round in many Fuller's
tied houses.
*Fuller's
1845 is a strong
Bottle-conditioned beer. It was first brewed in
1995 to celebrate Fuller's 150th anniversary. 1845 is also available in Fuller's
tied houses as a seasonal
cask ale.
*Fuller's
Chiswick Bitter is a 3.5%
cask conditioned ordinary or session
bitter and sold in most Fuller's
tied houses.
*Fuller's
London Porter. London Porter is available in pasteurised 50 cl bottles and in Fuller's
tied houses as a seasonal
cask ale.
*Fuller's
IPA is a premium
bitter produced mostly for export to the United States but also sold seasonally in the United Kingdom in Fuller's
tied houses as a
cask ale and in 500ml bottles.
*Fuller's
Vintage Ale is a vintage
bottle conditioned ale. Each year's brew is roughly based on Golden Pride, but with minor changes in the recipe. It is generally released around
Christmas, and has been made since 1997.
*Fuller's
Hock is a dark mild available in Fuller's
tied houses as a seasonal
cask ale.
*Fuller's
Discovery is a blonde ale first brewed in 2005, and sold
cask conditioned year round and in 50cl pasteurised bottles.
*Fuller's
Summer Ale is a seasonal blonde ale sold during the summer months both in
casks and in 50cl pasteurised bottles.
*Fuller's
Jack Frost is a seasonal ale sold flavoured with
blackberries. It is available as a seasonal
cask conditioned ale, and in pasteurised 50 cl bottles in the winter. It was introduced in 2000.
*Fuller's
Red Fox is a ruby coloured seasonal ale introduced in 1999, and flavoured with toasted oats. It is available as a seasonal
cask conditioned ale.
*Fuller's
Pale Ale is a pasturised pale ale available in 275ml bottles in most Fullers
tied houses.
*Fuller's
Old Winter Ale is a dark seasonal ale sold during winter in 50cl bottles.
*Fuller's
Mr Harry is a deep-amber coloured
bitter.
Fuller's also brew a range of beers under the
George Gales brand:
* Gales'
HSB (Hordean Special Bitter) is a
cask conditioned 4.8% premium strength bitter.
* Gales'
Butser is a 3.4%
cask conditioned bitter named after the dominant hill in the downs close to the former Gales's brewery at Hordean
* Gales'
Festival Mild is a 4.8%
cask conditioned premium strength mild ale, first brewed as a special for a 1990 beer festival with the aim of helping to revive mild ales . Healthy sales quickly saw it become a regular Gales brand.
* Gales'
Prize Old Ale is a 9%
bottle conditioned beer, sold in a corked bottle.
Anthony Fuller was the founding chairman of the
Independent Family Brewers of Britain.
*
Fuller's website*
Fuller's Ales - North America*
Brewery profile from
Ratebeer.com*
London Pride in the Canary Islands