Courage Brewery

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Courage
IndustryBrewing
Founded1787
FounderJohn Courage
ProductsBeer
OwnerMarston's Brewery
Websitetakecourage.info Edit this on Wikidata

Courage Brewery was an English brewery, founded by John Courage in 1787 in London, England.

History

Courage & Co Ltd was started by John Courage at the

Imperial Tobacco
Group Ltd. two years later.

Its vast Worton Grange brewery opened on the

public houses
were owned by a joint-company called Inntrepreneur Estates. Scottish & Newcastle purchased Courage from Foster's in 1995, creating Scottish Courage as its brewing arm.

In 2007, the production, marketing and sales rights of the Courage brands were sold to

hectolitres (9.3 million gallons) in 2003 to under 142,000 hectolitres (3.1 million gallons) in 2012.[5] The decline of Courage Directors has levelled off at around 60,000 hectolitres (1.3 million gallons), which is down from 140,000 hectolitres (3.1 million gallons) in 2003.[5] Wells & Young's reintroduced the historic brew, Courage Imperial Russian Stout, which was first brewed in the 18th century by Thrale's brewery;[6]
but this has mainly proved to be produced for distribution in the US, with limited amounts available in the UK.

In 2017, Marston's Brewery acquired the brand as part of its acquisition of Charles Wells's Eagle Brewery.[7]

Beers

Beer glass John Courage London Beer

Beers bearing the Courage name include:

  • Courage Best Bitter (4 per cent ABV in cask and keg, 3.8 per cent in bottles and cans).[8] It is described as "pale in colour, fully balanced with a malty flavour and distinctive hop character, [and] makes for an easy drinking session beer".[8] Courage Best Bitter sponsors local events within its south west of England heartland.[8] It remains one of the UK's top ten ales.[9]
  • Courage Directors (4.8 per cent ABV in cask, keg, bottles and cans). Available in cask, bottles and cans.
    Crystal malts.[11]
  • Courage Dark Mild (3 per cent) A mild ale available in keg form only.
  • Courage Light Ale (3.2 per cent) 10 fl oz bottles often used to make "light and bitter" with Courage Best Bitter.
  • Courage Imperial Russian Stout (10 per cent) (retired 2003, reinstated 2011)
  • Courage Velvet Stout (5 per cent)[14]
  • Courage 1945 Ale (5 per cent) (retired)
  • Courage Ceremonial Ale (4.8 per cent) (retired)
  • Courage Directors Winter Warmer (5.5 per cent) (retired)

Beers bearing the John Courage name include:

  • John Courage (4.7 per cent) (retired) Bitter.
  • John Courage Amber (unknown percentage) (retired) Bitter/Amber Ale.
  • John Courage Export Lager (unknown percentage) (retired)
  • John Courage Strong Pale Ale (4.2 per cent) (retired)

Advertising

Since the 1950s the brewery used the slogan "Take Courage"[15]

The

South of England in the 1980s.[16] Also, the Director's Bitter is a favourite of the British television character Alan Partridge
. He shares this passion during his short-lived friendship with Dan, who states that he has it 'coming out of his taps' in the episode "Brave Alan".

Sponsorship

The brewery sponsored

English Premiership rugby union league for ten years from 1987 until 1997.[18] Courage Best Bitter is a sponsor of rugby union club the Exeter Chiefs.[19]

References

  1. ISBN 9781558622180
    . Retrieved 2011-05-07.
  2. ^ "Index". Takecourage.info. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  3. ^ "Wells and Youngs Buy Courage Brands - Wells & Young's Brewing Company Ltd". 25 January 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-01-25. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  4. ^ "Job fears as brewery set to close". BBC News. 2008-02-12. Retrieved 2010-04-30.
  5. ^ a b Alcoholic Drinks: Euromonitor from trade sources/national statistics
  6. ^ "Courage Imperial Russian Stout Launched | News | Wells and Young's Brewing Company". Archived from the original on 2013-05-05. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  7. ^ "Charles Wells' Bedford brewery sells to Marston's for £55m". Bbc.co.uk. 18 May 2017. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  8. ^ a b c "Courage Best Bitter | Our Ales | Wells and Young's Brewing Company". Wellsandyoungs.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2010-06-05. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
  9. ^ Euromonitor, 2012
  10. ^ a b c "Courage Directors | Our Ales | Wells and Young's Brewing Company". Wellsandyoungs.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2010-06-05. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
  11. ^ a b "Directors - Courage". Couragebest.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
  12. ^ Euromonitor, 2011
  13. ^ "Premium Bottled Ale Report 2011" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-08-09. Retrieved 2011-05-01.
  14. ISBN 9780002160667
    .
  15. ^ Zythophile https://zythophile.co.uk/2009/04/18/take-courage-in-the-face-of-idiocy/
  16. ISBN 9781857828269
    .
  17. ^ "Reading - Historical Football Kits". Historicalkits.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
  18. ^ "Rugby Football History". Rugby Football History. 1997-11-01. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
  19. ^ "Chiefs Sponsors - The home of rugby in Exeter and Devon". Exeterchiefs.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2011-09-03. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
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