Firebrick Brewery Ltd.

Firebrick Brewery finds inspiration for its beers in the heritage of Blaydon on Tyne and the North East of England.

The brewery is on Cowen Road, named after Joseph Cowen Junior, MP for Newcastle in the late 19th Century; he was quite a character and a global political figure in his time. His father Joseph Cowen Senior was also an MP and was knighted for his work on the Tyne Commission, improving that river for industrial shipping. Their Blaydon brickworks exported Firebricks around the world and you can read more about all that here...
In summary then: Good blokes who made good bricks and tried to improve the quality of life for people in general – that seemed like a good theme to link our beer to!

Our first beer was brewed in January 2013 and Blaydon Brick a 3.8% ABV golden ordinary bitter made its way into a handful of local pubs. Coalface a 3.9% ABV dark mild followed. Elder Statesman a 4.5% ABV best bitter was next and in August 2013 Tyne 9 a black cask lager celebrating Newcastle United Football Club’s renowned centre forward shirt number, was launched at the iconic Strawberry pub opposite NUFC’s St James’ Park.

The first seasonal beer Tormit Heed (turnip head) was brewed as an autumn ale with a Halloween theme in October 2013; and the first “Special” in April 2014, a 5.2% ABV spiced spring beer (Root'n'Branch) brewed especially for the 2014 Newcastle beer festival complying with a set theme around Northumberland and Tyneside’s 40th anniversary as a CAMRA branch.

A superb new 12 barrel (barrel = 36 gallons) brew plant was ordered from Malrex specialist brewery manufacturers from Burton on Trent at the end of 2013 and the brewery doubled in size expanding into the industrial unit next door during the first two months of 2014. The first gyle produced on that plant was Blaydon Brick on 23rd March 2014.
The original 2.5 barrel brew plant is now used for seasonal and special brews and has just produced a new beer, Stella Spark which we would like to see become part of our core range as its American West Coast influence and citrusy hoppiness add a bit of zing to the line up!

That brings things up to date so please look out for Stella Spark this summer and let us know what you think.