History of brewing

Beer, and bitter in particular, is a way of life in Britain and there are few images more quintessentially British than enjoying a delicious pint in a traditional pub.

Beer has been around for centuries, and had almost certainly arrived in Britain by the Neolithic period. Through the ages assorted marauding invaders have tried to make their own particular tipple predominate - the Romans introduced wine and the Normans brought cider, but beer still prevailed.

Originally beer was brewed in the home, on the farm, and most notably in monasteries where passing travellers and pilgrims could pop in for a refreshing pint before continuing on their journey.

As commercial brewing grew in later centuries, deliveries were made by horse-drawn dray, so distribution was limited to the immediate local area. The look and feel of brewing all changed in the late 19th Century as firstly steam, and then motorised vehicles were introduced, leading to the larger breweries we see today.

For a more detailed history of the Griffin Brewery, please see our Company History section.