COX'S YARD

BREWERY CLOSED JAN 2002

Jester pic 4kb
Cox's Yard, Bridgefoot, STRATFORD-UPON-AVON. CV37 6YY
Tel: 01789 404600, Fax: 01789 404633
e-mail: info@coxsyard.co.uk

The brewery ceased operation in mid-January 2002, apart from a batch of Jester Ale brewed in May 2002. The equipment is still on site, but is now up for sale.

Pub/restaurant/leisure complex on the banks of the Avon owned by Charles Wells of Bedford. The brewery can be seen from the bar of the Cox's Yard pub. Jester Ale was originally contract-brewed at the Grainstore Brewery in Oakham, but production started here in the Autumn of 1998. Brewer Sarah Jane Anderson left in summer 1999, and brewing passed to the hands of Anna Davis, whose father runs Grainstore. John Pilling took over as brewer in October 2000. Scope for more beers was limited by the 6-barrel capacity of the plant. Roughly half the production was sold through the pub on site, but it also supplied nearly 50 other outlets, mainly Charles Wells pubs.

3.8% 1038 Jester Ale A traditional English ale using Fuggles and Challenger hops, and floor-malted Maris Otter malts. A well-balanced sweetness to bitterness with a characteristic Fuggles aroma.
4.6% 1046 The Juggler Introduced March '00. "The Big Brother" of Jester Ale was heavier and sweeter. A copper-coloured strong bitter with caramel malt in the mouth, leading to a hoppy finish.
OCCASIONAL BEERS
6.0%   Hung Drawn & Portered A dark porter introduced December 2001. Won Beer of the Festival award at CAMRA's Tewkesbury Beer Festival in February 2002, after the brewery had closed. (The first ever posthumous award to a beer?).
5.0%   Bumble Beer Introduced early August 2001, this wheat beer got its honey flavour from local Fosseway Honey. Pale and light, it also featured Northdown and Fuggles hops and a hint of coriander.
4.1%   Mucky Duck Mild A dark mild in the Black Country style, brewed to celebrate CAMRA's Make May a Mild Month. It made it debut at the Cox's Yard Beer Festival in May 2001.
5.2%   Blitzen The 2000 Christmas ale was brewed with dried fruit, fresh ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg. A handful of Goldings hops were added to each cask for a full flavour and aroma. A true winter warmer - smooth, rich and flavoursome.
5.2%   Millenium Mash A strong, dark but bitter and hoppy beer, using hop extract as well as whole Worcestershire Fuggles hops. Designed to bear a family resemblance to Jester Ale, it appeared in early December '99.
3.0% 1030 Cox's Mild A straw-coloured light mild was on sale over Easter '99.
5.0% 1050 Old Timber A pale, but full-bodied winter beer on sale Dec '98/Jan '99.

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BRWCOX Info as at 11.02