1849 Champion Ale – Joseph Holt’s of Manchester

1849 Champion Ale by Joseph Holts

Despite hailing from the ‘wrong side’ of the Pennines (a distinction I realise is entirely subjective and I say with the greatest of affection and genial banter!), the eponymous Joseph Holt of Manchester and his descendents have created a number of really good quality ales over the years, and 1849 Champion Ale is one of the brewery’s most readily available ales.

Hints of fruit jostle amongst the hops that dominate this ale. It has a darkish complexion in taste and colour, which make for a complex but thoroughly enjoyable drink, worthy of it’s ‘Champion’ title.

Traditional ales that really hit the spot can be hard amongst the myriad real ales in some supermarkets (not a bad thing but a good sign of how real ale now commands decent shelf space in the big four chains). If you live outside the North West & The Lakes you may have to go a little further out of your way to find Joseph Holt’s bottles though, as if I remember rightly this was a frugal purchase from Booth’s in Ilkley.

A very rewarding bottle, from a brewery that deserves greater recognition than it probably gets, at least outside of the Greater Manchester area. We’d be very proud of such a brewery in Yorkshire!