Burton-upon-Trent has a long history of brewing. The town, a tad over 100 miles northwest of London, once dominated the beer business, counting more than 30 breweries in the late 19th century, including Bass Brewery, which became the largest brewery in the world in 1877.
Burton’s brewing history goes back to its namesake abbey in the 11th century. By the 18th century, Burton ales were known to be strong ales—rich, dark, and sweet—and while they could vary in strength, they trended toward the double digits in alcohol percentage. The Russians liked strong beer, and Burton brewers had great success exporting their potent brew.
