Hull Brewery receipe

[seymour]

Wilf and goldstar, today I found some Hull info in my notes, can't remember where all it came from, so as always "buyer beware." Whatever the case, these "recipes" look like they'd brew tasty English ale!

I want to encourage you both to continue researching the Hull Brewery, and its yeast strain in particular. That Hull/Ringwood strain is one of the great mysteries of English brewing, as far as I'm concerned. Their historic English ale strain is clean and highly attenuative, a possible hybrid/mutant/prototype lager strain, rumoured to have originated from Swedish Pripps Porter, and went on to be used by Ringwood brewery, and as such, is now used in many craft breweries and possibly the same sold commercially as Wyeast 1187, White Labs WLP005. See also my notes on NCYC strain 1187, which I strongly suspect to be the real deal: viewtopic.php?f=12&t=58625

Has anyone emailed Marstons yet? Surely the old brewer's logbooks are archived somewhere. Start asking around, sometimes these things are in public county libraries which let you take pictures or digital scans of historic recipes.

Hull Brewery Co (1888-1985) – Kingston Upon Hull, UK

Hull Brewery Bitter
OG: 1036
ABV: 3.7%
Grainbill: 70-79% Pale, 13-16% Crystal and/or Chocolate Malt, 8-14% Flaked Maize and/or Invert Syrup
Hops: Goldings
Colour: amber
Yeast: Hull/Ringwood strain possibly available as NCYC 1187, Wyeast 1187, White Labs WLP005.

Hull Brewery Mild
OG: 1033
ABV: 3.4%
Grainbill: 95% Pale, 5% Black Malt
Hops: Fuggles
Colour: brown
Yeast: Hull/Ringwood strain possibly available as NCYC 1187, Wyeast 1187, White Labs WLP005.

Hull Ellwood's Best Bitter
OG: 1038
ABV: 3.9%
Grainbill: 100% Pale
Hops: Goldings
Colour: golden
Yeast: Hull/Ringwood strain possibly available as NCYC 1187, Wyeast 1187, White Labs WLP005.

Hull Governer Strong Ale
OG: 1048
ABV: 5%
Grainbill: 97% Pale, 3% Brown and/or Chocolate Malt
Hops: Goldings
Colour: copper
Yeast: Hull/Ringwood strain possibly available as NCYC 1187, Wyeast 1187, White Labs WLP005.

Hull Olde Traditional (Bitter)
OG: 1042
ABV: 4.3%
Grainbill: Pale, Brown and/or Chocolate Malt
Hops: Goldings
Colour: amber
Yeast: Hull/Ringwood strain possibly available as NCYC 1187, Wyeast 1187, White Labs WLP005.

[goldstar]

Hi Seymour,

Thank you for posting the additional information. I remember seeing some of these before in a document written by, I think Les Howarth.

With regards to 1187 - I think this is a great yeast whatever its history. I was interested to read the article with Alan Pugsley linked on the first page where he advised the original Hull Brewery yeast is actually two strains including a fast-attenuating yeast and a fast-flocculating yeast. He also mentions the two strains are available freeze dried.

The next is to try and see if Peter Austin, Alan Pugsley or even Hull CAMRA are willing to share any information they may have on the brewery.

[wilfh]

Hi Seymour/Goldstar
thanks for the input.
I've sent something to marstons but nothing back yet (2 weeks so far) but will follow up soon.
there is something in the local Hull archivves which I'm following up but this may be limited to accounts etc. Not sure yet. Also depends when I get home to actually have a look.
In terms of a reference I have a blank canvas as family aren't that helpful. "Beer and good" type of descriptions so not that descritive. (they are wine drinkers)

Will keep digging.
There is also apparently a historical brewing society based in Birmingham. anybody from there that could help?
cheers
Wilf

[wilfh]

Well after a lot of song and dance. marstons were very helpful but didn't retain any brewing notes. The Hull brewery archive was kept by Mansfield in their archive but it wasn't retained by Marstons (either the Mansfield or Hull records) on the take over. The British library source is for the Mansfield archive so out of date. Have a few other leads which may result in something. we shall see.

a couple of hundred years of brewing seems to have been discarded which is a shame.

[wilfh]

Here’s what I’ve found so far,
Unfortunately not much more on the recipe front but some interesting names all the same

I’ve no idea what Marissa or Maundy Ale could be made from.

The recipe’s that Seymour has appear to be from the Hull Brewery that was set up in the late 80’s/ early 90’s by ex Hull Brewery employees. (reportedly using the same recipe’s originating from pre Northern Dairy days) They must have folded some time in the mid 90’s as I don’t remember them by the 2000.

Dates are approximate and not set in stone

Amber Ale 1928-63
Anchor Export Beer- filtered pasteurised and canned 1949+
Black Beauty sweet Stout
Brown Ale
Coronation Ale 1953
Crystal Bitter
Double Anchor 1900-53
Double Stout
Golden Ale- 1950’s
Light Ale
Marissa (???)
Maundy Ale
Mild
Nut Brown
Pale Ale
Pilot Export
Strong Ale

North County Breweries (northern Foods) 1972-1986
Riding Bitter
Top Score
North County Bitter
Olde Traditional

New Hull Brewery incarnation 1989+
Ellwoode’s Best Bitter
Governor Strong Ale
Anvil Mild
Anvil Bitter
Anvil Strong

If anyone has different information feel free to share.

Wilf