Every town would have its own brewery. People drank weak beer because the water wasn't fit. Preston had Matthew Brown and the old maps show the malthouses.

Like most industries it's gone. Although there are a few independants in the area. In my opinion the term lager lout doesn't relate to frenzied behaviour it relates to their palate. Bring me some real ale. Link to CAMRA.

 

Matthew Brown

Matthew Brown, 1807 - 1883, started brewing and running pubs in 1830. His brewery was in Pole / Percy Street which is between the bus station and Church Street and his pub the Anglers Inn was on Lords Walk. In 1883 he had malthouses at Lark Hill, Maudland, Moor Park and Lawson Street and 46 pubs / beer licences. Old Tom was a speciality and was well known as a strong beer. In 1927 Matthew Brown took over the Lion Brewery of Nuttalls in Blackburn and moved the business to there. Many pubs in Preston still carry traces of the Matthew Brown name. In 1987 it was taken over by Scottish and Newcastle. In 1991 S&N closed the brewery and moved production to Nottingham. In 2008 the business was carved up by Carlsberg and Heineken and in general Heineken operate the S&N part. Personally I would only drink beer from a small independant unless it was the last beer in the world and even then I'd try to brew my own. (ref. People of Old Preston, Keith Johnson for the fuller story).

Thwaites

Brewery in Blackburn since 1807. Large independant brewer.

Moorhouses

Brewery in Burnley. Small real ale brewer.

Red Rose

Blackburn. Small real ale brewer.

Hart

Cartford, Little Eccleston. Small real ale brewer.

InBev

At Samlesbury is a large brewery owned by InBev one of the worlds largest brewers. It was built in the late 1960's when its main produce was lager. The brewery was formerly owned by Whitbread and was taken over by Interbrew who are now InBev following their merger with AmBev, of South America) in 2004. Boddingtons beer is now brewed here. Although personally I think it might be called Boddingtons but it might as well be called 'Beer Number 328' if it's brewed without any specific identity.

Brewing Industry International Awards 2005