BULLDOG PALE

 

We’re bringing back a Classic Courage beer, Bulldog Pale Ale, following a thirty two year hiatus. 

 

The origins of this interesting beer date back to 1949 following John Martin having to leave his import business in Antwerp when the Germans had overrun Belgium in 1940. Mr Martin spent the war time as Managing Director of Robert Porter Export Bottlers near Kings Cross, London. After the war, and before returning to Antwerp, he felt that a market existed for a strong pale, dry English ale of the highest quality for sale in Belgium. He chose as brewers, Simonds of Bridge Street, Reading. It’s thought that in his role at Porters he had considerable dealing with them as they produced beers before the war for export and for the troops during the war. Eric Downes, the Head Brewer at the time, was given the task of creating a Pale Ale for this Belgium market. However, a major problem was that Simonds had no export bonded store but Robert Porter did so brews were tanked from Reading for bottling in London under the name Martins Pale Ale and then shipped overseas. 

 

The export volumes started flowing in 1949 under the name ‘Golden Dry’, promptly winning two gold medals at the brewers’ exhibition in 1950. Because of the difficulties predicting exact quantities needed, any surplus was sent back to Reading and sold as ‘Simonds Bulldog’ for the local UK market; this name coming from the nick name of Sir Winston Churchill and the Trade-mark of Porters. In 1970 the beer was bottled at 7% abv, before reducing down to 6.3% in 1989, and then down to 5% by 1993 when it ceased production for the UK market. 

 

Our Master Brewer, Paddy Johnson is an ex-head brewer at Courage in Reading, and he is hosting a Courage reunion here at Windsor & Eton Brewery in May. To give the attendees something to remember he was eager to re-brew a classic beer from Courage’s past and one which he was responsible for “warm- conditioning” and sending weekly to the Continent for bottling. Hence our brewing of Bulldog as our monthly cask special for the month of May.  

 

Most of this history seems to be about bottling – so why in cask? Well, the story goes that at Board meetings in the 70’s the Directors of the business would ask for a small cask of Bulldog Pale to be taken from the bottling tank for their personal refreshment during the monthly meetings. In time, this beer lead to the development of the classic “Directors’ bitter” in cask. Our beer uses an original recipe from 1972 to recreate the Bulldog that those Directors enjoyed in cask. 

 

The beer is a traditional English Pale Ale but with some interesting special features given its history. It has a very light amber colour (continental requirement!) and resultant subtle caramel and biscuity maltiness. Following fermentation, the beer was dry hopped for an extended period in “warm-conditioning“ to give a full, distinctive yet mellow hoppiness on the palate and aroma. Overall this produces a fruity, complex yet light and balanced beer with a long lasting satisfying smoothness. A classic with pedigree. 

 

The beer will be available for trade from week commencing 5th May. Pre-orders of this limited edition can be made by contacting our trade department on 01753 854075 (Opt 1) or emailing sales@webrew.co.uk. 

 

We will also showcase Bulldog on the bar in our brewery taproom and at our flagship pub The George Inn, Eton.