Some of the Burton Union sets, recently decommissioned by Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Co (CMBC), have found a new home at Thornbridge Brewery.
The Burton Union sets in place in Thornbridge’s Riverside Brewery, in Bakewell
Discussions between CMBC and Thornbridge began in February, to look for a way to provide a new future for the Union sets. CMBC gifted the set of union barrels to Thornbridge and has also provided expert guidance and advice on maintenance and set-up for the system.
This is set to be completed in May. The union sets will be used for brewing special edition cask beers utilising the historic method first created in Burton-on-Trent in the 19th century.
As beer writer Pete Brown explains on his blog, the deal seems to have been orchestrated by Garrett Oliver, brewmaster at Brooklyn Brewery, in New York. “Oliver has had a close relationship with Thornbridge for many years,” writes Pete. “And Brooklyn Brewery has a longstanding commercial relationship with Carlsberg. (It’s complicated — Carlsberg don’t own Brooklyn, but do have international rights to sell Brooklyn beers in Europe and other parts of the world.)”
The union system dates back to the 1800s and is a beautiful wood-barrel fermentation system that has been used continuously in the production of different beers over the decades.
Thornbridge has stepped in to save one of the sets, not only for its historic importance, but also to utilise it in a modern way and continue to premiumise its cask beer range. Starting with a brew of its flagship beer, Jaipur, it will follow up by brewing other much-loved beers from its catalogue, new beers specifically for the union kit, and collaborations.
Indeed, collaboration brews on the system will be an integral part of its future at Thornbridge; bringing together breweries with a keen sense of history who would like to help innovate with the system.
“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,” said Garrett. “I’m thrilled to provide the ‘assist’ on this historic play.”
“To have the chance to brew on a small part of the union is incredible for us,” said Simon Webset, chief executve and co-founder of Thornbridge. “We are so grateful to be given this opportunity and will make sure that great beers are brewed on the Thornbridge union.
“It will give us a chance to collaborate, innovate, and create premium cask beer whilst providing a new showcase for this important piece of brewing history.”
Emma Gilleland, director of brewing at CMBC, said: “This collaboration is a perfect showcase for the ways brewers can come together to deliver something special, for the love of beer and Britain’s incredible brewing heritage.
“We’ve been proud to support Thornbridge through the process by sharing our time and expertise to help set up their own union system, and we are confident they will be fantastic custodians for our union sets.”
Rob Lovatt, head brewer at Thornbridge, said: “This project is a dream come true for Thornbridge, and we’re grateful to CMBC for their generosity in giving these union sets to us to brew with going forwards.
“While there are challenges yet to get the system up and running, we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to preserve these beautiful icons of British brewing.
“Every process, detail, and recipe change in a union system has an effect on the beer’s flavour, and I’m excited to see what we can create with the new system here in Bakewell.”
Checking the installation at Thornbridge
Mark Newton, cooper at Marston’s Brewery, in Burton, added: “It’s been a huge privilege to have spent so many years caring for and maintaining these historic sets at Marston’s Brewery, and I’m so pleased to have been part of the CMBC team working with Thornbridge to help them prepare for setting up their own union system.
“It’s heartening to know that, alongside the set we are preserving at our brewery, our union sets will have a new home with the brilliant brewers at Thornbridge.”
CMBC says it has invested in the preservation of one of the remaining union sets at Marston’s Brewery, which will be on display to celebrate the brewery’s heritage and remarkable history of the Burton Union system.
It is expected the preservation work will be completed by the end of May and is being overseen by CMBC’s expert cooper before he begins his retirement.
