On 30 May 2007 at 2:14pm ExiledfromLewes wrote:
A bit of a long shot, but Beards Brewery closed in 1958 and I was wondering has anyone actually drunk the stuff or know someone of the older generation who has. What does it taste like?
Lastly for the real ale aficionados do they know any differences in technique in the brewing of Beards that might of made it unique and can it be replicated by a modern brewery.
Also as next year is 50 years since the brewery's closure, if it is possible to replicate a pint of Beards does anyone think a commemorative bottle of Beards/Harveys is a good idea.
To the people in the know perhaps it's impossible, but to my knowledge Harveys and Beards had a good local relationship with Harveys helping out Beards with Ale to sell in their pubs when the brewery closed. Just an idea, but would like to know what people think...
On 30 May 2007 at 2:27pm Andy wrote:
Being only 40 years old, i don't remember Beards i'm afraid. Do you know why it shut down ?.....and where was there brewery....i thought i heard someone mention around Lancaster street area but can't be sure.
On 30 May 2007 at 3:07pm ExiledfromLewes wrote:
I got most of my knowledge from older locals, plus there was a book written by a Mr Graham Holter called Sussex Breweries with lots of good info.
real ale was a huge industry in Britain, with Sussex very much being in the fore front of this (however dozens of breweries have closed leaving the younger generation without the chance to taste the unique brews of previous ales).
The Beards Brewery was in Fisher Street at the Star Gallery, although there was also a brewery at the Maltings (which might of been owned by Beards as well).
I think the reason why it closed was that the brewery was no longer economically viable (other people might have a better idea).
Beards Co did continue though as Harveys helped them out by supplying ale to their pubs, untill Green King bought out the pubs. I'm also not sure what beer Harveys supplied to Beards, whether it was Harveys, or they did a Beards special or not.
Being not 30, i'm still tryng to piece together bits of the town history, i'm sure their are people with a clearer understanding and perhaps even tasted a Pint of Beards.
On 31 May 2007 at 3:12pm Andy wrote:
Thanks for that.
I'm trying to remember the list of shops that were in the town when i moved here in 1970. I can remember the pet shop was Gamleys, i remember Rice Bros, Timothy Whites, Liptons and Tescos....and probably a few more if i really think about it.
On 31 May 2007 at 3:47pm ExiledfromLewes wrote:
Having difficulty remembering older shops. I can just remember the Odeon cinema although very young at the time.
The names of all seven lewes Breweries are Ballards (@ Southover), Bear, Beards, Harveys, Southdown and East Grinstead, Southover and South Malling steam brewery.
On 3 Jun 2007 at 9:40pm Rookie wrote:
According to Mr Davey, who knew a thing or two, there were nine breweries in Lewes.
Ballard, Bell lane
Verrall, Southover High Street
Langford, Castle Gate
Beards, (formerly Chitty) Fisher Street
Harveys, Cliffe Bridge
Monk, (formerly Rickman) Bear Yard
Hillman, Southdown Brewery, Malling Street
Elmsley, (later Lyell) Malling street
Thomas Berry, Malling Street
On 4 Jun 2007 at 6:59pm ExiledfromLewes wrote:
That sounds a lot better than the list i got from Sussex Breweries book. In my book it said Bear/Monk Brewery was owned by a Mr John Rickman who gave it up because he was teetotal. After that it says it was owned by a Edward Monk and Sons and was used by Harveys. It seems a lot of the breweries had multiple ownership. My knowledge is a bit iffy though, is castle gate near the maltings car park which I heard was a former brewery.
On 4 Jun 2007 at 9:52pm rookie wrote:
Have a look at "The Inns of Lewes Past and Present" by LS Davey. Published by Friends of Lewes
On 5 Jun 2007 at 12:16pm ExiledfromLewes wrote:
Will Do, thanks for you post.
On 20 Jun 2007 at 1:44pm JB wrote:
A commemorative bottle as suggested above would be a non-starter, I'm afraid. Arundel Brewery now own the Beards recipes, although they ceased brewing it a couple of years ago.
On 20 Jun 2007 at 2:04pm ExiledfromLewes wrote:
Thanks, I forgot that I posted this good to know the answer thank you. I thought all the rights of Beards would of been bought up by now, although I thought it would of been done by Greede King alongside with the pubs. Pity i didn't know that Arundel was brewing the stuff till recently, Oh well maybe they will do something commemorative (if it's economical)
On 10 Jul 2007 at 2:01pm RichardOfGardeners wrote:
Hi all. Just came across this thread which is really interesting to me as I live in what I understand was the Southdown (and East Grinstead) Brewery on Malling St (just before Blacklaws Garage - see pic on p14, issue 66 Viva Lewes). I'm trying to find out more about the house (no.66) and would appreciate any pointers. Someone mentionned a Mr Davey - any relation to him of Daveys Lane by any chance? Is he still with us?
On 26 Jul 2007 at 1:01pm Andrew Whitnall wrote:
I am partly responsible for the 2006 edition of Leslie Davey's 'Inns of Lewes' book having updated it for the Friends of Lewes Society (copies available from their website or Lewes Tourist Info Centre) and have led several guided walks around Lewes on the subject of pubs and breweries, so I'll try and answer some of the queries.
I understand from a former colleague who once lived in 93 or 94 Malling Street that a number of houses in that area were owned by Southdown & East Grinstead Brewery for their workers. Davey's Lane is older than Mr Davey who sadly died about 18 months ago.
As far as I'm aware Harveys Sussex Best Bitter was rebranded as Beards Best between the Beards closure in 1958 and its brewing by Arundel in the mid-1980s. Beards Star Brewery closed after an agreement between the Head Brewers at Harveys and Beards which led to Beards managing it pub chain and beer distribution company from Hailsham. The distribution company and pub chain being sold separately in the 1990s to the Beer Seller and Greene King respectively.
It would be very fitting for Harveys to brew a commemorative 'Beards' ale next year as the closure of Beards is a key moment in the survival of Harveys as an independant brewer - I'm sure Mr Jenner could persuade Arundel to let him borrow the recipie if they do indeed own it!
On 20 Oct 2015 at 9:38am Geoff wrote:
I seem to remember , in the 1970's that the pub on Horstead Keynes green sold Beards. I always thought (quite wrongly) that Beards had been bought by Harveys. The Beards bitter tasted just the same as Harveys, both delicious.
On 15 Jan 2018 at 1:11pm mark smalley wrote:
Hello I am a metal detectorist who detects in the East Sussex area and recently found (in Battle) a metal part from an old beer barrel bearing the name of
Ballard & co Lewes I have done some general research into this company
but haven't found a lot
does any body here have any information
Kind regards Mark...
On 22 Apr 2020 at 11:55am Alan Brown wrote:
Back in July 1983, Beard's Best Bitter was sold at Horsted Keynes Railway Station and from what can be remembered, very similar to Harvey's Sussex Bitter, with the nutty flavour on the palate with perfectly balanced bitterness in the aftertaste. Mark, I will make an attempt at researching the metal part found at Battle but cxan't promise you anything. Cheers, Alan
On 22 Apr 2020 at 5:38pm Alan Brown wrote:
Just look up Ballard's Brewery and will take you straight to wkipedia.