Give Me Beer!

In the immortal words of Homer Simpson: 'Give Me Beer!' My lockdown walk took me to the site of the former Dales Brewery in Cambridge; the front of which is splendidly preserved.

One of many local breweries in Cambridge, it was established in the 1870s and this particular site was developed in 1903. In 1911 the brewery won a gold cup for beer of the “highest purity and excellence” at the Brewers International Exhibition. In celebration a 7ft high copper replica of the cup was placed on the brewery building and remained a landmark for many years. The cup was also represented on bottles, labels, advertisements and drip-mats for years afterwards with slogans such as “Gold Cup Beers” & “World’s Highest Award”. At yet another of the many brewers exhibitions, this time in 1919, first prize and “Champion Gold Medal” were gained for their beers. This added the slogans “Champion Beers” and “Highest British Award”. The company was purchased by Samuel Whitbread in 1954 but brewing on this site ceased just four years later. The cup was, unfortunately, taken down in 1961.

It has been great to see the emergence of so many micro-breweries in recent years. Let's hope that they survive Covid. Cheers!