I have a fairly decent sized handful of Robinson's pubs in my CAMRA Branch area. In fact we will be meeting at one of them next Tuesday. I can't say Robinson's beer is my favourite by any means, but it is good to see they are investing for the future. A new six figure brewhouse will be built to run alongside its existing Stockport facilities which will still be used for the production of its range of specialist ales.
Oliver Robinson said ""I'm the sixth generation of Robinsons to be at the helm, and I very much hope that my children will continue here. These investments send out a clear message that we are here to stay and that Robinsons intends to continue to be at the heart of Greater Manchester."
Good for them. That's the thing about (most of ) the remaining Family Brewers. They are in it for the long haul.
Robinsons operate around 400 tied pubs in the North West and Wales
It is downsizing though. I can't remember for certain but I think it will 80% of the present.
ReplyDeleteI don't think its downsizing. From what I read, it's in addition to existing facilities.
ReplyDeleteI think it's excellent to see a major independent brewery demonstrating such faith in the future.
ReplyDeleteIncreasing capacity for rubbish beer; is that a good thing?
ReplyDeleteIn fairness, while I don't like it and I take it you don't, plenty of others do.
ReplyDeleteFWIW I reckon they ought to chuck their yeast away and start again. It is too dominant.
As with all breweries, so much depends on how the beer is kept. There's no shortage of Robbies' pubs in the Good Beer Guide in and around Stockport, and one of them, the Arden Arms, has recently been voted the local CAMRA branch Pub of the Year.
ReplyDeleteI think rubbish is rather harsh.
ReplyDeleteThere’s only one Robbie’s pub (the Masons, Anchor Street) in Southport and the surrounding area and, although the beer isn’t my favourite, I find Unicorn a perfectly acceptable standard beer on my fortnightly visits to the pub. I’m not sure what I’d drink if they only sold rubbish like Tetley’s. I find their Dizzy Blonde quite a pleasant light bitter.
May be your right, rubbish is a bit harsh. Unexciting is would be better.
ReplyDeleteI don't really go out of my way to find Robbie's, but it seems that other people do. Fair enough.
Dammed apostrophes, never there when you want them and creep in when you're not looking.
ReplyDeleteThe new plant will give Robinson's the option of making short length brews of more specialist beers. Currently the minimum brew length is 60 barrels.
ReplyDeleteRubbish? Unexciting? Just wait until you try the beer they are planning to be based on Sierra Nevada Pale Ale...
I was brought up on Robbie's Best Bitter and Best Mild (back when I was *cough* 14...) and whenever I'm back in the North West I really enjoy a pint or two of their beer - the secret is finding somewhere it's well kept, otherwise it's utterly foul!
ReplyDeleteAnd then of course, there's the delightful Old Tom...
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale...? mmmm, I might change my mind.
ReplyDeleteI was given the grand tour and all that by Oliver Robinson back in December.
ReplyDeleteRobinsons are indeed looking at modern beer trends. They work closely with Steve Holt of Vertical drinks who put a lot of bottles on supermarket shelves (not literally) and import rather a lot of craft beer, including the Sierra Nevadas. There is no one more qualified in the bottle/craft/supermarket field (I used to do some work for them). They quite rightly consider Old Tom to be their beer most qualified to perform well in this aspect of the market and the emergence of "Chocolate Tom" is no surprise (They also considered a fruit version called "Tom and Cherry" but decided against it).
I do recall OR telling me that that the new kit they are installing will represent a downsizing of brewing capacity but an increase in flexibility for the growing contract brewing market.
I too think their beers are rubbish; thin, bland, the same peppery hops in every one and a nasty yeast taste. Okay so Old Tom is okay (although the chocolate was one of the worst beers I had last year!) but this comment about so much depending on how it's kept is just gibberish - to quote an old saying, you can't polish a turd! Bland beer is bland beer however you look after it.
ReplyDeleteSaying that, if they really are going to start using some hops and becoming more experimental then that proves that they're seeing where the beer market is going as to stand still would mean them vanishing within 10 years IMO.
"You can't polish a turd!".
ReplyDeleteIndeed, but you can roll it in glitter!
"You can't polish a turd!".
ReplyDeleteIndeed, but you can roll it in glitter!