Caergwrle Ales

At one time Caergwrle Ales were renowned. Lassell and Sharman established the brewery in 1861, realising that the local spring water was ideal for brewing beer. The brewery prospered, supplying many local pubs with pale, mild and bitter ales and an invalid stout. Barrels were sent by rail to Shotton for distribution and there was an off-licence at the brewery. In 1937, it was one of the first breweries to offer canned beer.

The brewery closed in 1945 soon after it was taken over by Burtonwood Breweries. The old brewery site was used by a paint manufacturer until the 1970s . No trace of the brewery remains as the buildings were demolished and housing built on the site.

Incorrectly spelled by Lowry as ‘Caergwale’ in ‘Goya The Obscure’ where the ale is being sold in The Dolphin pub where Joe Passalique is drinking after returning from sea ('Goya The Obscure' Pg. 270). Lowry refers to the beer in his short story ‘Enter One In Sumptuous Armour’ again mis-spelling the name; “In Frankby there was the Farmer’s Arms – Caerwyle Ales and Stouts” (Psalms Pg. 232). We must assume this might have been Lowry’s favourite beer.