In the March edition of Beer Matters, we reported that Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC) were ending the use of the Burton Union brewing system at their Albion brewery in Burton-on Trent. This is a method of brewing using an arrangement of wooden barrels and pipes which recirculates beer and yeast during the fermentation period.
Marston’s established their Union System in 1898: described by Roger Protz as, ‘The Cathedral of Brewing,’ housed in a single brew-house, they had ten sets of Burton Unions, mostly used to produce, Pedigree (4.3% abv). They were the last remaining brewer to use this system, originally developed in 1838.
While the world was watching the snooker final, CMBC posted on both LinkedIn and X. Locally-based Thornbridge Brewery have been gifted one of the ten Burton Union sets. It is being installed at their Riverside Brewery (Bakewell), CMBC providing guidance both on the set-up and maintenance.
Apparently the success of this transfer is due to the intervention of well-known New York brewer, Garrett Oliver, brewmaster at Brooklyn Brewery. Oliver has had a close relationship with Thornbridge and Brooklyn has a longstanding commercial relationship with Carlsberg.
Oliver said: “When I heard that the unions were slated to go silent, I immediately thought that Thornbridge would be the perfect inheritors of this beautiful piece of British brewing heritage. I’m thrilled to provide the ‘assist’ on this historic play.”
The plan is to initially brew a special batch of Jaipur (5.9% abv). The Union will then be used to brew other established beers, some brand-new new beers and collaborations with other brewers who are keen to see what a union-fermented version of their beers will look like.
However, there is no news on what will happen to the remaining nine Union Sets – they still seem destined for the tip. One down, nine to go – anyone want a Burton Union Set?
