Allsopp's Beer

The beer that built Allsopp’s – the Pale Ale was first brewed in 1730 above The Blue Stoops pub in Burton-on-Trent – by 1850 it was the biggest selling beer in the country. Now the new Blue Stoops has launched in Kensington, London and the circle has been closed with Allsopp’s Pale on sale again throughout the Realm.

Tasting Notes: Pale gold and bright, with light bready, cereal, and citrus notes on the nose. On the palate, a perfect balance of juicy hops, moreish biscuit body, with a dry finish that will have you reaching for another sip before you know it.

Shot through with Royal and Naval history, Allsopp’s was commissioned by Queen Victoria to brew a beer for her ships to take on exploratory expeditions to the Arctic regions. The result, Arctic Ale, was brewed to 11% to prevent it from freezing and even now it is the definitive drink for keeping out the cold.

Tasting Notes: Its colour is a rich brown, and its flavour is suggestive of old Madeira. Almost ‘still’ and, indeed, has never been very effervescent, although not at all flat.

Bitter is very much back, threatening Stout and Lager for the title of ‘top beer’ and no beer represents the style like Allsopp’s Best Bitter. Long out of fashion, so-called ‘brown beers’ are attracting a new generation of drinkers who love darker ales that symbolise ‘a drink you can only get down the pub’.

Tasting Notes: A simple, incredibly refreshing traditional bitter. Amber malt is the primary malt, with East Kent Goldings hops adding a touch of forest fruits alongside a thirst-quenching bitterness.