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Innovation with Tradition  Since 1994  
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Innovation with Tradition

Our mission is to create the best in beers from around the world. We use traditional techniques to make pure, full-flavoured, natural beers.
No filtration and no pasteurisation ensures that all the flavour and quality is retained in the finished beverage.
Cask beers are properly cask-conditioned until ready and are not subjected to conditioning tanks.
Bottled beers are conditioned for up to two months while yeast drops out and flavours mature before being bottled. Shelf life is measured in years. Bottles are suitable for Vegans.

History

The Durham Brewery launched in August 1994 at the Durham CAMRA Beer Festival where we were awarded beer of the festival with Celtic. Founders Christine and Steve Gibbs were full-time teachers at the time and the brewery was an alternative to teaching, which made them redundant after a year. With the brewery as the sole means of income, it had to perform. Steve developed "The White Range" which properly launched the brewery into the wider world. The beers were explorations of many hop types and incorporated a pale malt base. The beers were an instant success and still form the basis of our portfolio. The original 5 barrel plant was sold and a new 10 barrel plant was installed in new premises in 1999. We have increased staffing over the years and now we have six members. Steve explored all types of beers over the years and one of the most notable was a recreation for Mike Field of The West Riding Refreshment Rooms, Dewsbury, of Whitakers "Old Tom ". This evolved into Evensong which won Gold in the 2005 GBBF Real Ale in a Bottle competition. Bottle-conditioned beers were started in 2000 with "Millennium City" in celebration of Durham's two thousand years. This beer is now known as St Cuthbert. An adventurous bottle range is now available from the lightest 3.8% to the darkest 10%. Steve continues to experiment with continental styles.

 
Beer Award
Bede's Chalice British Bottlers' Institute Gold Medal - Strong Ales Class E July 2010
Temptation Winner in Real Ale in a Bottle, Durham CAMRA Beer of the Year 2010
Magus Second Place in Real Ale in a Bottle, Durham CAMRA Beer of the Year 2010
Vice Winner in Speciality Beers, Durham CAMRA Beer of the Year 2010
Magus Second Place in Bitters, Durham CAMRA Beer of the Year 2010
Vice Silver Award in the Speciality Class at Peterborough CAMRA Festival 2009
Cloister Winner Durham CAMRA bottled beer of the year 2009
Magus Winner Durham CAMRA Beer of the Year 2008
Bee's Knees Best of the Show at Berwick Beer Festival 2008
Bee's Knees Best in Light Ales & IPAs at Berwick Beer Festival 2008
Black Velvet Best in Stouts, Porters & Dark Beers at Berwick Beer Festival 2008
Benedictus Silver medal at CAMRA National Winter Ales Festival 2008 - Barley Wines.
Nine Altars Harry Cragg Beer of the Festival Award 2007 2nd Place Strong Bitter Category - Leicester CAMRA
Black Velvet Harry Cragg Beer of the Festival Award 2007 3rd Place Porter/Stout Category - Leicester CAMRA
Magus and White Centennial Joint Durham CAMRA beers of the year 2007
Benedictus Bronze medal at CAMRA National Winter Ales Festival 2007 - Barley Wines.
Magus Voted Beer of the Year (2006) by Durham CAMRA
White Gold Beer of the Festival - Ashfield Beer and Cider Festival 2006
White Amarillo Beer of the Festival - Mansfield and Ashfield September 2005

Evensong Bottle

Gold Award - Real Ale In a Bottle - GBBF 2005
White Amarillo Silver Award - Premium Bitter - Peterborough CAMRA Fest August 2004
Magnificat Silver Award - Barley Wines- Peterborough CAMRA Fest August 2004
Magus Gold Award - Bitters - Peterborough CAMRA Beer Festival August 2003
White Friar SIBA National best bitter 2003
White Friar SIBA North best premium bitter and overall champion 2002 - 2003
Magus CAMRA Beer of the Year - North East Beer of the Year Competition 2002
White Amarillo Beer of the Festival - Stockport and South Manchester CAMRA, Stockport Beer and Cider Festival 2002
Sanctuary Beer of the Festival - Deal, Dover, Sandwich and District Branch of CAMRA, White Cliffs Festival of Winter Ales 2000
White Velvet Beer of the Festival - Watford and District CAMRA Beer Festival 2000
Neueschloss Beer of the Festival - Newcastle CAMRA Beer Festival 2000
Westoe Beer of the Festival - Wear Valley CAMRA Beer Festival 2000
White Bishop Silver Award in the Strong Bitters Category at the Great British Beer Festival 1999
Westoe Beer of the Festival - Beamish Mary Beer Festival 1999
White Gold Beer of the Festival - Keighley CAMRA Beer Festival 1998
White Bishop Beer of the Festival - Durham CAMRA Beer Festival 1998
Tournament Silver Award - Beauty of Hops British Beer Awards 1997
Sanctuary Beer of the Festival - Durham CAMRA Winter Beer Festival 1996
Celtic Beer of the Festival - Durham CAMRA Summer Beer Festival 1995
Celtic Beer of the Festival - Durham CAMRA Summer Beer Festival 1994
 

The Durham Brewery is a member of SIBA.    Small Brewers Association

 The Durham Brewery is HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points) compliant. This is required of all breweries by The Food Safety Regulations 1995.