British Real Ale Trivia Quiz

Answer: Titanic

Titanic Brewery started life in 1985 in Burslem, England. The brewery took its name from Edward Smith, captain of the Titanic, who lived just down the road. They now produce over 200,000 gallons of fine ale every year. Titanic Iceberg is one of my favourite beers and is made from Maris Otter malt and Cascade hops.

Answer: Heineken

Founded in 1869 in Edinburgh, the brewery became one of the biggest in Scotland. It was taken over in 1919 by Vaux of Sunderland and then in 2004 by Scottish and Newcastle. The Caledonian Brewery Company was founded with S&N as a small shareholder. Some complicated business deals followed until in 2008 Scottish and Newcastle owned the entire brand.

Heineken bought S&N later in the year making them the overall owner of the best beer in the world.

Answer: Burnley

Moorhouses have been making soft drinks since 1865 but only made it's first beer in 1978. After several changes of ownership, the brewery finally hit the big time with the Pendle range including Black Cat, Pride of Pendle, and Pendle Witches Brew. Pendle is only a few miles from Burnley and has more romantic connotations.

Answer: Black Sheep

After 160 years the Theakstons Brewery was taken over by Scottish and Newcastle. Paul Theakston fell out with other members of the family over the move and founded Black Sheep Brewery just down the road in Masham, North Yorkshire.

Answer: 6X

Wadworth's delicious 6X ale is made from Fuggles and Golding hops. It has been brewed for more than 80 years and is one of the most recognisable beers in the South of England.

Answer: Dent Brewery

Dent Brewery uses pure water from a local spring at Hollins, near Dent, which gives the beer a crisp smooth taste. Most of the beers use a sheep theme (others are called T'owd Tup and Golden Fleece). The original idea was to sell it only at the Sun Inn in Dent but it soon became so popular that it spread across the north west. If you can get hold of some, do so it is highly recommended.

Answer: Alton's Pride

Alton's Pride is brewed by the Triple FFF Brewing Company in Alton, Hampshire. They have several other notable beers all brewed from that special Maris Otter malt, named "Comfortably Numb", "Dazed and Confused", and "Pressed Rat and Warthog" although I have no information on where the names came from.

Answer: Sheffield

The Kelham Island Brewery started life in the Fat Cat public house on Alma Street but soon grew and moved into purpose built premises on Kelham Island. Since 1990 the other four large breweries in Sheffield (Bass Stones, Bass Hope and Anchor, Whitbread, and Wards) have closed leaving Kelham Island as the biggest brewery is Sheffield.

Answer: Shepherd Neame

Shepherd Neame has been brewing ales in Faversham, Kent since 1698 and is still run by members of the Neame family.

Answer: Greene King

Greene King was formed by the merger of two breweries in 1887 in Bury St Edmunds. Abbot Ale is its main line, but it has come under fire from real ale enthusiasts after swallowing up some smaller independent breweries recently and closing their traditional breweries. It has gained the nickname "Greedy King" from these controversial takeovers.