Truman’s – the small brewer with the big name – is coming home to East London.
Twenty-three years after the famous Truman’s Brewery on Brick Lane closed, the New Truman’s Brewery is opening in Hackney Wick, East London. The first Truman’s beers brewed at the new site are expected to hit London’s pubs early in 2013.
Founded in 1666, Truman’s was the beer of East London for more than 300 years. Re-founded in 2010 by two beer-lovers, it has been brewed elsewhere while a suitable new home was found. Its flagship beer – Truman’s Runner – is currently available in more than 150 pubs across London.
James Morgan, one of the founders of the New Truman’s Brewery, commented: “We are delighted to be bringing 346 years of brewing heritage back to the local community. This is the biggest brewing investment in East London in several decades. The site is in Hackney Wick, one of the most exciting areas in East London. You can see the Olympic Stadium from the front door’
Initial investment has been secured and the company’s ‘Truman’s Eagle’ scheme closes at the end of the year. The official opening of the New Truman’s Brewery is planned for the spring.
Michael-George Hemus, who re-launched the new brewery alongside James, added: “It all seemed a bit daunting when we set out to bring Truman’s back to East London. But we have had great support from the East London community, with a number of local people investing directly in the project via our “Truman’s Eagle” scheme. We want to make the Truman’s name great again – and we are only just getting started.”
–ENDS—
- For quotes or more information on the re-establishment of Truman’s – please email trumans@trumansbeer.co.uk or phone James Morgan +44 (0)207 247 1147
- For Images, high-resolution 300dpi images are available to download here (Password: b33r):
http://trumansbeer.viewbook.com/
Notes:
Established in 1666, closed in 1989 and re-established in 2010, Truman’s is the classic East London beer.
Once a heavyweight of British brewing – by the late 1800s it was the world’s largest brewer – it fell victim to the “merger mania” of the 1960s and 70s. Truman’s held on to be one of the last independent brewers in London, but in 1971 it succumbed to a hostile takeover. Eighteen years later, after a long period of decline, its breweries were closed and its pubs sold off.
In 2010, Truman’s Beer was re-established by two local beer enthusiasts, James Morgan and Michael-George Hemus. Many a day was spent examining the records of the London Metropolitan Archives to find the original foundations on which it should be rebuilt.
The goal of the business it to make Truman’s a great name in beer once again – by going back to basics, brewing great beer and being part of the local community.
Truman’s Runner is the flagship beer of Truman’s and is a copper coloured, well rounded 4% bitter. ‘Runner’ was traditionally the name of a brewer’s easy drinking, session beer – available to everyone everywhere. Truman’s Runner is our interpretation of this custom.