Gales Brewery

George Gale & Co. Ltd was a Hampshire brewery with a distinctive range of, mainly, bitter beers. Founded in 1847 it was bought by the London brewers, Fuller's of Chiswick in 2005. The brewery was closed in 2006 with production transferred to Chiswick.

George Gale & Co. Ltd
TypeBrewery
IndustryBrewing
Fatedefunct
SuccessorFullers Brewery
Founded1847
FounderGeorge Gale
Defunct2006
Headquarters
Horndean
,
England

History

Established in 1847[1] Gales Brewery (George Gale & Co. Ltd) was an old brewery situated in Horndean, on the edge of Waterlooville, near Portsmouth in Hampshire, England. It made the nutty HSB (Horndean Special Bitter) and the newer Gales Bitter. It took its water from its own well situated under the brewery which is fed from the South Downs, and the yeast and 'liquor' (local water used for brewing), coupled with the local brewing style, produced beers with a sparse head, quite dark in colour.

In late 2005 Fuller, Smith & Turner bought Gales for £92 million.[2] It raised fears as to the future of Gales Horndean brewery and some of its beers, and the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) launched a campaign to encourage Fuller's to continue production of the full Gales line at Horndean. However, in January 2006, Fuller's began cutting jobs at the Horndean brewery, and it was announced on 27 February 2006 that the brewery would close at the end of March 2006, although distribution and warehousing would continue in the area.

At that point, production of the Gales brands moved to Fuller's Griffin Brewery in Chiswick, London, with the exception of Gales Bitter which was discontinued.[3]

As of 2017, most of the brewery site has been replaced with apartments and retail shops. The main tower remains standing and was converted alongside the construction of new buildings into apartments.

Brews
George Gale brewery dray performing at Great Dorset Steam Fair, 30 August 2008
  • HSB = The award-winning, flagship brew of the brewery. Brewed to 4.8% (Cask and Bottle)
  • Butser = A medium strength bitter with a pleasant lightness of touch and good balance and was known as BBB until 1991. Became unique to Fuller's pubs in the south after the takeover or was available as a seasonal at other Fuller's Pubs until 2009, when all the remaining Gales branded ales sold (Except for HSB and Seafarers Ale) were discontinued. Brewed to 3.4% (Cask and bottle)
  • Prize Old Ale = A range of ales with a unique, fruity flavour from a prolonged maturation and a special brewing process. The last Prize Old Ale was brewed in 2011 and was discontinued. All of the Prize Old Ales are brewed to 9.0%.
  • Festival Mild = Was originally produced for a beer festival held by the North Hants and Surrey division of CAMRA in the 1990s, and later went on to be sold publicly, winning CAMRA beer awards. The ale became unique to Fuller's pubs in the south after the takeover or was available as a seasonal at other Fuller's Pubs until 2009, when all the remaining Gales branded ales sold (Except for HSB and Seafarers Ale) were discontinued. This beer is brewed to 4.8% (cask and bottle).
  • Seafarers Ale = Was originally developed in 2009 as a partnership with Seafarers, the leading maritime charity. Brewed to 3.6% (Cask) or 4.2% (Bottle).
  • Spring Sprinter = Introduced in 2011, it is a light zesty ale available every spring. Cask only and brewed to 3.8%.
  • Winter Brew = An winter themed ale with a similar taste to Prize Old Ale. Brewed to 4.2% (Cask and Bottle)
  • Swing Low = An ale that was brewed exclusively for the rugby season. Brewed to 3.8% (cask and bottle).
  • Summer Breeze = A bottle-exclusive classic, golden, summer ale brewed for the summertime. Brewed to 3.8%.
  • Gales Best Bitter = In the early 2000s, this beer was given a makeover, but was later discontinued in 2006 due to it having a very similar taste to Fuller's London Pride and outselling the latter. Brewed to 4.0%.
  • Gales GB
  • Gales Light Ale
  • Other discontinued draught & keg (CO2 pressured) beers *XXX Light Mild, *XXXD Dark Mild, *777 Keg Mild, *Gales Keg Bitter
  • Other discontinued bottled beers *Nut Brown

Limited Edition Brews
Gales Brewery 1926 Austin motor dray
  • Last Drop = The last ale brewed at the Gales Brewery before its closure in 2006.
  • Gales Trafalgar 200 = Was first brewed in 2005 to celebrate the bicentenary of Nelson's famous victory.
  • Gales Clubhouse Bitter =
  • Gales Crowning Glory = Was brewed to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee in 2002.
  • Gales Millennium Brew = Was brewed to celebrate the new millennium in 2000.
  • Gales Conquest Ale
  • Gales D-Day Ale
  • Gales Silver Jubilee Ale = Was brewed to celebrate the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977
  • Gales Royal Wedding Ale = Was brewed to celebrate the 1981 Royal Wedding.
  • Gales Portsmouth 800 Ale = Was brewed to celebrate the 800th anniversary of Portsmouth in 1994.
  • Gales Golden Jubilee Ale = Was brewed to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee in 2002.
  • Gales Victory Ale
  • Gales Vanguard Ale

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 26 June 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 26 June 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Bitter end to Gales brewery". The News [Portsmouth]. 27 February 2006. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
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