Belvoir Brewery Ltd: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Belvoir.jpg|thumb]]
[[File:Belvoir.jpg|thumb]]
[[File:Old Dalby Belvoir.jpg|thumb]]
[[File:Old Dalby Belvoir.jpg|thumb]]
 
<big>'''Belvoir Brewery Ltd,''' ''Crown Park, Station Road, Old Dalby, Leicestershire LE14 3NQ''</big>
<big>'''Belvoir Brewery Ltd''', ''Crown Park, Station Road, Old Dalby, Leicestershire LE14 3NQ''</big>


The Brewery was established by former Theakston's and Shipstone's brewer Colin Brown in 1995 in converted farm buildings at '''Woodhill, Nottingham Lane, Old Dalby'''. Moved to the Crown Business Park in 2007. There was a visitor centre, shop, and bar-restaurant at the site.
The Brewery was established by former Theakston's and Shipstone's brewer Colin Brown in 1995 in converted farm buildings at '''Woodhill, Nottingham Lane, Old Dalby'''. Moved to the Crown Business Park in 2007. There was a visitor centre, shop, and bar-restaurant at the site.
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*Read: [http://www.breweryhistory.com/journal/archive/130/BelvoirBrewery.pdf "Belvoir Brewery, Old Dalby, Leicestershire" by Tim Holt]
*Read: [http://www.breweryhistory.com/journal/archive/130/BelvoirBrewery.pdf "Belvoir Brewery, Old Dalby, Leicestershire" by Tim Holt]
'''Mike Brown writes:-'''
Belvoir Brewery, Woodhill, Nottingham Lane.
Colin Brown who had previous experience with [[Theakston Ltd]] and [[Shipstone & Sons Ltd]], started his own brewery on 6th June 1995 with a capacity of 25 barrels. His initial plan was to brew at Belvoir Castle, which once had its own brewery, hence the choice of name. The pronunciation gave rise to the use of “Beaver” for some of the beers.
The equipment largely came from the closed [[Shipstone & Sons Ltd]] in Nottingham, indeed the Star bitter and the mild are designed to replicate the bitter flavour of their old brews.
The brewer uses a full mash of the finest Maris Otter malt from one of the few remaining traditional floor maltings at Beeston in Nottinghamshire. For bitterness and aroma four varieties of Worcester whole hops are used and the brewery places emphasis on their use, including dry hopping of the casks.
Current output is around 30 barrels a week, supplying some 80 free trade outlets in the East Midlands. The regular beer range is:-
*Mild Ale 3.4%
*Star Bitter 3.9%
*Beaver Bitter 4.3%
There are also seasonal beers:-
*Whippling Golden Bitter 3.6%
*Old Dalby Ale 5.1%
*Peacock’s Glory 4.7%
The latter obviously is named after the village, the Glory comes from the birds which roam the grounds of Belvoir Castle, whilst the Golden is named after “The Whippling” river which runs through the valley. The occasional/special brews have included:- High Flyer, Liquid Gold and Jolly Beaver. The range also includes Old Merry at 6%, based on an old recipe for a strong dark ale, which also incorporates “some alternative ingredients”!
In July 1998, they opened the Beaver Tap in Nottingham and also formed Beaver Inns to sell the beers. The brewery has recently been extended, with larger fermenters and the building of a bigger refrigerated storage space. The equipment for the latter coming from some of the recently closed regional breweries of Crown Buckley Ltd, (see [[Buckley's Brewery Ltd]]), [[Ruddles Brewery Ltd]], [[Flowers Breweries Ltd]], Bass Sheffield (see [[Stones Ltd]]) and [[Morrell's Brewery Ltd]].




[[Category:Leicestershire]]
[[Category:Leicestershire]]

Revision as of 20:51, 19 December 2022

Belvoir.jpg
Old Dalby Belvoir.jpg

Belvoir Brewery Ltd, Crown Park, Station Road, Old Dalby, Leicestershire LE14 3NQ

The Brewery was established by former Theakston's and Shipstone's brewer Colin Brown in 1995 in converted farm buildings at Woodhill, Nottingham Lane, Old Dalby. Moved to the Crown Business Park in 2007. There was a visitor centre, shop, and bar-restaurant at the site.

However, in April 2021, closure was announced. It's possible that a new smaller site would be opened elsewhere.

Mike Brown writes:-

Belvoir Brewery, Woodhill, Nottingham Lane.

Colin Brown who had previous experience with Theakston Ltd and Shipstone & Sons Ltd, started his own brewery on 6th June 1995 with a capacity of 25 barrels. His initial plan was to brew at Belvoir Castle, which once had its own brewery, hence the choice of name. The pronunciation gave rise to the use of “Beaver” for some of the beers.

The equipment largely came from the closed Shipstone & Sons Ltd in Nottingham, indeed the Star bitter and the mild are designed to replicate the bitter flavour of their old brews.

The brewer uses a full mash of the finest Maris Otter malt from one of the few remaining traditional floor maltings at Beeston in Nottinghamshire. For bitterness and aroma four varieties of Worcester whole hops are used and the brewery places emphasis on their use, including dry hopping of the casks.

Current output is around 30 barrels a week, supplying some 80 free trade outlets in the East Midlands. The regular beer range is:-

  • Mild Ale 3.4%
  • Star Bitter 3.9%
  • Beaver Bitter 4.3%

There are also seasonal beers:-

  • Whippling Golden Bitter 3.6%
  • Old Dalby Ale 5.1%
  • Peacock’s Glory 4.7%

The latter obviously is named after the village, the Glory comes from the birds which roam the grounds of Belvoir Castle, whilst the Golden is named after “The Whippling” river which runs through the valley. The occasional/special brews have included:- High Flyer, Liquid Gold and Jolly Beaver. The range also includes Old Merry at 6%, based on an old recipe for a strong dark ale, which also incorporates “some alternative ingredients”!

In July 1998, they opened the Beaver Tap in Nottingham and also formed Beaver Inns to sell the beers. The brewery has recently been extended, with larger fermenters and the building of a bigger refrigerated storage space. The equipment for the latter coming from some of the recently closed regional breweries of Crown Buckley Ltd, (see Buckley's Brewery Ltd), Ruddles Brewery Ltd, Flowers Breweries Ltd, Bass Sheffield (see Stones Ltd) and Morrell's Brewery Ltd.