Greene King

Greene King is a British pub and brewing company founded in 1799, currently based in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. The company also owns brands including Hungry Horse and Farmhouse Inns, as well as other pubs, restaurants and hotels. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE), until it was acquired by CK Assets in October 2019.

Its best known beers are Greene King IPA and Abbot Ale, the third and fifth highest selling cask ales in Britain.[2]

History

The brewery was founded by Benjamin Greene in Bury St. Edmunds in 1799.[3] In Richard Wilson's biographical analysis of the Greene family, he credits various family members for being able to achieve distinction in the worlds of business and banking, literature (Graham Greene, for example) and broadcasting in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.'[4]

Beers

Abbot Ale – A premium bitter (5.0% abv) first brewed in the 1950s.[51] The ingredients are pale, crystal and amber malts; with First Gold, Challenger and Fuggles hops – the Fuggles being late-hopped.[52][53] In 2007 Abbot Reserve (6.5% abv) was introduced as a winter special in the cask, with year-round availability in the bottle.[54]
Greene King IPA – An English IPA (3.6% abv) served in pubs and cans available from supermarkets and off-licences nationally. It is made using Challenger and First Gold hops and using pale and crystal malt.[55] Greene King IPA controversially won the Gold award at the 2004 Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) Great British Beer Festival in the Bitter category and runner-up in the Champion Beer of Britain category.[56] In 2009, Greene King began to roll out a new form of dispense which allows customers to choose either a "Northern" or a "Southern" head on their beer.[57] In 2012, two extensions of the brand were launched: Gold and Reserve.[58]
IPA Export – A stronger cask bitter (5.0% abv) IPA available from off-licences in bottles, also made using Challenger and English First Gold hops.[55]
Olde Suffolk/Strong Suffolk Vintage – A strong old ale (6% abv) that is a blend of two ales, one being aged in oak for two years. It is available in bottles.[59]
St Edmunds – A crisp golden ale (4.2% abv) available in both bottles and cask nationally.[60]
Greene King XX Mild (3% ABV). A dark mild ale available on cask. Black and Crystal malts, Northdown hops.[61]
Ice Breaker – A pale ale (4.5% ABV) made with pale and amber malt, with using two notable American hops varieties Citra and Simcoe. Available on cask and limited distribution in Waitrose.[62]

Hardy's and Hansons Kimberley Ale

Olde Trip – A 4.3% Premium Ale. Named in honour of the Nottingham inn Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem, which claims to be the oldest inn in Britain. As of September 2007 this was for sale in the Brewery Museum in 500ml bottles.[63]

Belhaven

Belhaven Best
Belhaven Black
Nowhere Pale Ale
Twisted Grapefruit IPA

Morland

Old Speckled Hen is a popular bitter, available both as a cask ale and pasteurised in bottles. First brewed in 1979 by Morland Brewery in Abingdon, Oxfordshire to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the MG car company setting up in Abingdon, and named after the MG factory's MG car – the paint splattered Owld' Speckled 'Un. Brewed since 1999 by Greene King. Greene King has retained the strain of yeast first used in 1896. Old Golden Hen has received a coveted Monde Selection Award at the 2012 World Quality Selections. By receiving this award, the Old Golden Hen became the third and final member of the Old Speckled Hen family to win a Monde Selection quality award.[64] In 2008, Greene King released a vintage oaked, super premium version of Old Speckled Hen, named Old Crafty Hen (6.5%).[65]
Hen's Tooth – A 6.5% bottle conditioned beer.[66]
Tanners Jack – abv 4.4% – Regularly seen across the country as a guest beer, often found in

Ridley's

Old Bob (Formerly) – Originally brewed in Essex by Ridley's Brewery then later at Greene King's main brewery at Bury St. Edmunds after acquisition, it was a premium strong bitter, with a strength of 5.1% ABV and available both on cask and bottled. While it has not yet been confirmed as discontinued, it has not been available from Greene King's online shop since May 2022, and its listing has since been deleted.[69]

Ruddles

Ruddles County – A 4.7% bitter available on cask nationally.[70]
Ruddles Best Bitter – A 3.7% session bitter with national distribution.[71]
Ruddles Orchard – This 4.2% cask bitter consists of Ruddles County with the addition of apple concentrate. Also available pasteurised in bottles.[72]

Trader Joe's

The King's English – A 6.0% export IPA.[73]

type	Subsidiary (Private limited company)
foundation	1799
location city	Bury St Edmunds, England, UK
key people	Nick Mackenzie (CEO)
industry	Alcoholic beverage
products	Beer
revenue	£2,176.7 million (2018)‡R1R‡
operating income	£373.1 million (2018)‡R1R‡
net income	£162.5 million (2018)‡R1R‡
owner	CK Asset Holdings
subsid	Hungry Horse, Chef & Brewer
homepage	greeneking.co.uk

Greene King

History

Operations

Visitor centre

People

Awards

Criticism

Beers

Greene King

Hardy's and Hansons Kimberley Ale

Belhaven

Morland

Ridley's

Ruddles

Trader Joe's

External links

References