NBA LABEL
COLONEL JIM PORTER

The Man Who Made Newcastle Brown

PICTURE OF COLONEL JIM PORTER The first toast ever to Jim Porter had been in Burton Ale. In 1891 at the time when six North East Breweries had combined to become the Newcastle Breweries Limited, Jim Porter was born into a brewing family in Newcastle's rival brewing town of Burton-on-Trent.

It was best Burton bitter which flowed as Master Brewer Herbert Porter, Chairman of Robinson's Brewery toasted his newly arrived son and it was obvious that Jim Porter was destined to become a Brewer.

He played in the Burton brewery when he was on holiday from Haileybury School and his interest in the art of brewing took him to Birmingham University where he studied the chemistry of brewing and malting.

Brewing was rapidly developing into a science. The rule of thumb had given way to a technical era with quality control, hygiene and beer character coming to the fore.

In 1909 Jim Porter was one of only three students to receive a certificate in brewing and malting. His search for experience ended in Newcastle, the town which laid claim to being the first place in Britain to brew beer.

A letter from his university professor put him in touch with Thomas Watson Lovibond, the General Manager of Tyne Brewery and Lovibond, who became the Company Chairman in 1915, was also a man of science.

Jim Porter was accepted as a Premium Pupil Brewer - all work and a little pocket money at the end of the week. His studies were interrupted by World War One but James Porter, who had served as a junior officer in the T.A. while at university, was ready for action.

By 1914 he had been promoted to Captain and a year later became a Major in command of a battalion. He switched to France and in 1918 won a D.S.O. Then as a Lt.-Colonel commanding a regiment, at the tender age of 27 years, he gained a bar to his D.S.O. and on demobilisation the young brewer returned to Tyne Brewery to a hero's welcome.

Time and war had changed things at the Tyne Brewery. Thomas Lovibond had died and Mr Barras Ramsay Reed - a descendant of the original John Barras Brewery family which had founded the Newcastle Breweries Ltd, was in the Chair.

Newcastle Breweries had kept going throughout the war, while other companies had floundered. The task ahead was clear - to restore the company to its former glory and expand.

Jim Porter returned to his brewing and at the same time Edward Reed, son of Barras Reed, joined the company and tackled the job of improving public houses and building new ones. The company was on the move again but the Tyneside market was ever fluctuating and attentions seemed to be turning toward bottled beers.

Jim Porter worked closely with the Brewery's Chief Chemist, Archie Jones and in 1924 'experiments' started in brewing, blending and tasting. Three years later the new bottled beer was ready - Newcastle Brown Ale went on the market.

The success of the 1928 Brewers' Exhibition had to be recognised. For a year the clear flint glass bottle carrying 'Broon' had borne an oval label. Another loop was added at the top of the label to carry triumphant details - and the famous figure '8' label now known throughout the world was born. The Blue Star emblem was also added.

By 1930 the Board of Directors reported that bottled sales had increased 30% on the 1929 figures and a year later Jim Porter was appointed a Director himself.

His achievements and work in science and technology took him further afield. He became a fellow of the Incorporated Brewers Guild and was elected President of the Institute of Brewing.

Brown Ale sales were still climbing when the Second World War became a reality, but wartime controls meant a shortage of staff, fewer raw materials and Government restrictions. Blue Star 'Utility' beers were introduced but Newcastle Brown Ale hardly changed even though output had to be restricted as a result.

Newcastle 'Broon' was the watchword for Geordies scattered throughout the world and acquiring the famous brew became something of an undercounter affair. But when victory celebrations were held the 'Broon' flowed on Tyneside and it became even more popular.

In 1951 a new bottling factory was opened at Tyne Brewery. Machinery improved and bottling lines soon began to rattle off Newcastle Brown Ale with a tin crown cap instead of the old screw top version. The bottle shape became more slender but it was still in clear flint glass and the label remained unchanged except for the need to add a black background in order to make the shape oblong and fit the new machines.

In 1953 Col. Porter became Vice-Chairman of Newcastle Breweries and two years later became Chairman.

When Newcastle Breweries merged with Scottish Brewers in 1960 to form Scottish and Newcastle Breweries Limited, Col. Porter became the Vice-President of the Group.

Canning of Newcastle Brown meant it could now travel further afield. Exiled Geordies throughout the world demanded their own brew for special occasions and very soon the basis for a worldwide export network had been established.

When Colonel Porter died his Newcastle Brown Ale had reached shop shelves in way-off Australia. The Times carried an obituary - the Daily Mirror recorded the sadness of drinkers everywhere. Newcastle Brown Ale - the legend in its own time - had become a monument to Colonel James Herbert Porter, C.B.E., D.S.O.



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