The Quaffer: Drink in Brighton

Friday 12 April 2013

Drink in Brighton - The Laine Brewery

Like many of the new generation of brewers, Nigel Dallas used to work in IT. He became passionate about craft beer several years ago when in Australia and started to homebrew there. After returning to the UK in 2010, Nigel took a three month diploma course at Brewlab. He cut his brewing teeth at Thornbridge and then worked for Dark Star before becoming the brewer for The Laine Brewery at the North Laine, Brighton.

This is a brewpub (pictured below) managed by Penny O’Reilly and owned by the company Drink In Brighton.

The 5-barrel reconditioned kit from ABUK first brewed in October 2012. The first beer launched, Porter (4.6%), was revived this April as the 5.3% Slaughter. A 6.9% Christmas ale was called Silent Night, while Hooker was a 4.0% Six Nations rugby-themed amber ale.

New on the pumps during March was Black Rock, an oatmeal stout at 4.5%; this and the 5.0% IPA (American-style using Columbus hops) are permanent beers. A red ale at 5.0% is to be launched during the Brighton Fringe Festival, followed by a 3.5% pale and hoppy summer ale.

Nigel is currently brewing twice a week and racking once weekly. His beers are presently only available at the brewpub where three third-pint measures can be purchased for the price of a pint.

Note that the 4.0% Laine’s Best is brewed at Horsham-based WJ King. It is a rebadge of their Brighton Best and available at all Drink In Brighton pubs. Nigel says that as production steadily increases, the beers may become available in the company’s other Brighton outlets but as this is their first brewing venture they will wait to see how demand develops.