Heritage Ales is a venture by Spitting Feathers with the help of brewing historian John Murray of Cestrian Brewery. Our aim is to recreate, as faithfully as possible, some of the great beers and styles of bygone ages. By scouring the archives and records offices, conducting local research and by consulting historians we hope to unearth and reproduce ancient beers and ales of historic and cultural significance.

The range of Heritage Ales so far is-

Victorian Porter (4.6%) Download Pump Clip

The beer style that once dominated British brewing. Porter originated in London where the coal tax meant that malt was wood-cured giving the drink its distinctive colour and flavour. A nourishing and nutritious drink, Porter was popular among the working classes including the porters and barrow boys who worked the narrow streets and gave the beer its name. Brewed using an authentic recipe from 1865.
Available Feb-March

Revolution Pale Ale (4.6%) Download Pump Clip

The industrial revolution made possible the large-scale brewing of pale beer for the first time and also it’s transport around the country transforming the brewing industry and leading to the rise of the national brewers. This Pale Ale is brewed using the same traditional English grains & hops to recreate this groundbreaking beer.
Available April-May

Northgate Ale (4.9%) Download Pump Clip

Brewed to an authentic 1902 recipe from the original brewery records held by Cheshire Archives and from local studies, this one time popular Cestrian ale is back. This mid-amber beer has fruity malt flavours and a pleasant hoppy aftertaste.
Available June-July

Roman Ale (5%) Download Pump Clip

Recreated by analysing residues found in Roman pots found at archaeological digs at Roman sites dating from around 100AD near and other research. Original ingredients including oats, rye and bog myrtle make this is a real taste of ale as the Romans brewed it in Britannia around the time of Christ’s birth.
Available Aug-Sept

Empire I.P.A. (5.2%) Download Pump Clip

The beer brewed to quench thirsts around the globe-spanning British Empire. India Pale Ale was brewed specifically for export with properties to match. It was higher alcohol and hop levels to preserve the beer as it travelled back over the seas on ships that had sailed to the UK to deliver cargo from around the empire.
Available Oct-Dec