Allsopp’s, one of the most famous names in British brewing history, is making a return after a break of 62 years.
Photographs: Allsopp’s
But Jamie Allsopp, seven times great-grandson of pioneering brewer Samuel Allsopp, isn’t just picking up where his ancestors left off. He’s fulfilling a lifelong dream of restoring the ales that made his family’s name to their former glory. A dream of brewing beer that actually tastes like beer, for a generation thirsty for the real thing.
His secret weapon? The sole surviving ledger of his family’s recipes in existence. The rest are lost or destroyed, Jamie having spent years hunting for them. But now, with Allsopp’s past secured, he has turned to its future.
First, he enlisted the help of Burton-style brewing expert Jim Appelbee, who skilfully adapted the original recipes to work for today’s ingredients, methods, and tastes.
Next came the tricky task of finding Allsopp’s new home. But, when Jamie walked through the doors of Mark Simmonite’s hand-built brewery in Sheffield, he knew he’d found the place. Working together closely, Jim and Mark tinkered away with different malts, hops, and brewing techniques, until they’d cracked Allsopp’s comeback brews.
Now, Jamie is reintroducing Allsopp’s Pale Ale and India Pale Ale. He said: “Allsopp’s is for everyone: the new generation of beer drinkers who may be lost or overwhelmed by choice, as well as fans of traditional, classic British ales.
“Like our history, Allsopp’s beers have layers and depth. But above all, they’re beers made with good ingredients, skill, and heart. Beers for people who like beer. So, whilst we respect the best of the past, these ales are still true originals, embracing innovation, bold, contemporary design and modern culture, for modern beer lovers.”
Pale Ale
Jamie’s forebears dedicated themselves to perfecting their Pale Ale. Balanced, golden-hued, and almost dangerously drinkable, this was the beer that made their name.
Fortunately, going the extra mile in pursuit of brewing excellence is one family tradition Jamie is more than happy to keep up. Which brings us to this contemporary take on an eighteenth-century classic: crisp, sessionable and insatiably refreshing.
Tasting notes: Pale gold and bright, with light bready, cereal, and citrus notes on the nose. On the palate, a perfect balance of juicy hops, moreish biscuit body, with a dry finish.
Ingredients: Maris Otter, Extra Pale, and Chevalier malts, and Aurora and Cascade hops. 4.4% ABV in bottle, and 4% ABV in cask.
India Pale Ale
Samuel Allsopp was one of the first to brew this now world-famous beer. Legend has it that he brewed his very first batch in a teapot. Whatever the truth, from those humble beginnings Allsopp’s and India Pale Ale became forever connected, the beer travelling all over the globe.
It’s only fitting then that some 200 years later, Jamie would be the latest in a long line of ancestors to make it their own.
This aims to be a faithful recreation of the original Burton IPA — the complex, beguiling inspiration for one of the most popular and enduring beer styles, the calling card of the craft beer revolution.
Tasting notes: With the added benefit of better malt and hops than Samuel had at his disposal, this recreation is darker and clearer than most modern IPAs. Malt and hops combine on the nose to create notes of fresh hay, citrus, and dark fruit, with a hint of caramel. On the palate it’s rich and rewarding, with grass and spicy notes playing off a light toffee-like base, before a dry, lingering finish.
Ingredients: Maris Otter and Chevalier malts, and Bramling Cross, Fuggles, and Challenger hops. 5.6% ABV in bottle, 5% ABV in cask.
Timeline
1822: Samuel Allsopp begins brewing Allsopp’s India Pale Ale.
1934: Samuel Allsopp merges with next-door neighbour Ind Coope to form Ind Coope & Allsopp Ltd. The Red Hand is adopted as the new company logo. The brand’s merger with Ind Coope means a loss of ownership of some of Allsopp’s logos and trademarks temporarily. But the brand is now (2021) entirely back in the hands of the Allsopp’s family, with all assets having been brought back from Carlsberg and BrewDog.
1959: The company changes name to Ind Coope Ltd, for advertising purposes, with Allsopp dropped for good. The Red Hand trademark fares better and will feature on Double Diamond and Draught Burton Ale branding into the 1990s.
