 While there are older breweries in
England, it would be safe to say that few breweries are so little changed as this gem at
Stamford, which has stood in the center of the beautifully preserved market community
since 1825. From the antique grist mill to the ancient copper vessels, Melbourn Bros.
remains today, a working brewery which blends the traditions of the ancient craft with
that of the early industrial revolution. By using such a facility to brew beer with wild
yeasts, seasoned with fresh fruits, we are reliving a history for which books are destined
to be written.
One of the high points of any visit to England would be a visit to Stamford, a small town
in Lincolnshire, in the east of England. Just off the main square, near all Saints'
Church, is the working brewery of Melbourn Bros.
William Brown Edwards
established the basis for the present brewery in 1825. Edwards and his family ran the
brewery until 1857, when Frederick George Phillips, who, in turn, was followed by Elmer
Brown in 1859, succeeded them. The business bought by Herbert Wells Melbourn in 1869 was
therefore already well established and successful. Though small by the standards of London
or Burton-on-Trent, the size of the brewery and its trade was about average for the
country as a whole.
The establishment
suffered a fire in 1876 and had to be rebuilt. When it was rebuilt, the most modern
brewing methods of the day were employed, including a coal-fired boiler, and the new plant
was called Melbourn Bros. Steam Beer Brewery.
Melbourn Bros. was
operated until the late 1970s, when it was decided that the plant was too old and
inefficient. During the years of operation, as is the custom in England, the brewery's
majority of customers were its own "tied" pubs in and around Stamford.
In 1994 Melbourn Bros.
decided that their beer would be brewed in an ancient British tradition, with fresh fruits
as seasoning. (Only as recently as the Middle Ages has the hop been used as a beer seasoning
and preservative.) At that time, old fashioned construction, wooden tanks, and other
hard-to-clean surfaces would otherwise have been considered a liability. Instead these
were turned into an asset: the brewery would make an ideal facility in which to brew
spontaneously fermented beer.
Today, with 15,000
inhabitants, Stamford is a living museum, and a visit is a step back in time. Students of
architecture can see Saxon, Danish and Norman buildings. The mellow stone buildings, both
private and municipal, range from medieval to the 18th century. In addition to beautiful
buildings Stamford offers churches, museums, shops, pubs, hotels, bed-and breakfasts and a
nice public garden next to the river. It is a great place to explore, with delightful
surprises around every corner.
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