Bass Beer And Wheat: What's The Connection?

Bass Ale is a full-bodied beer with a slight burnt roast aroma and a high-quality, full-bodied flavour. It is brewed using hops, water, malts, and accentual oils and minerals. The ale is known for its taste and drinkability, with English hops giving it its floral notes and malts giving it toasty highlights.

Bass Ale is generally known for its original pale ale, which was established in 1777 and is exported from the United Kingdom worldwide. It is usually brewed at 5% ABV and exported in a six-pack of bottles. Like other ales, Bass Ale has a top-fermenting yeast that is fermented at a warmer temperature for 3–5 consecutive days. This process also allows for the beer to have a more fruity and robust flavour.

But does Bass Ale contain wheat?

Bass Ale's history

Bass Ale has a long and storied history, dating back to 1777 when it was founded by William Bass in Burton-upon-Trent, England. Here is a detailed account of the evolution of Bass Ale over the years:

Early Beginnings:

William Bass initially worked as a carrier, transporting ale for brewer Benjamin Printon. However, he soon sold this business and used the funds to establish Bass & Co Brewery in 1777, marking the birth of Bass Ale. The brewery quickly gained recognition and began exporting bottled beer worldwide, including to regions like the Baltic through the port of Hull.

Expansion and Growth:

The demand for Bass Ale led William Bass's son, Michael Thomas Bass, to build a second brewery in Burton in 1799, in partnership with John Ratcliff. This expansion solidified the brand's presence in the market, and by 1850, the brewery was producing an impressive 100 UK barrels, or 100,250 US barrels, per year. The water from local boreholes became a favourite among brewers, and by the mid-19th century, 30 breweries were operating in Burton.

Becoming a Global Brand:

Under the leadership of Michael Thomas Bass and his son, also named Michael Thomas Bass, the company continued to thrive. By 1877, Bass had become the largest brewery in the world, with an annual output of over one million barrels. Their pale ale was exported throughout the British Empire, and the iconic red triangle became the UK's first-ever registered trademark. Bass Ale was served from India to Canada to Australia, solidifying its status as a global brand.

20th Century and Beyond:

Bass continued to brew its signature beers and expand its reach well into the 20th century. In 1962, they acquired the Worthington brewery, and the company underwent various mergers and acquisitions, eventually becoming Bass Charrington Ltd and later, Bass PLC. Despite challenges and changes in the industry, Bass Ale has endured and is still enjoyed worldwide, although its ownership and brewing operations have changed hands several times.

Today, Bass Ale is owned by the world brewing company Anheuser-Busch InBev's Salesbury Brewery, and it remains a testament to its rich history and brewing tradition.

Bass Ale's ingredients

Bass Ale is a full-flavoured ale that is still brewed according to its original recipe from 1717. The ingredients used to brew Bass Ale are:

• Select malts
• Aromatic hops
• Water rich in essential salts and minerals
• Two strains of traditional ale yeast

Bass Ale is characterised by its slight burnt roast aroma and high-quality, full-bodied flavour. The ale yeast gives the beer a complex, nutty, malty taste with subtle hop undertones and a beautiful chestnut hue.

Bass Ale is currently brewed by AB InBev in the United States and the United Kingdom. The beer has a long history, dating back to the early 19th century when it was first brewed in Burton-on-Trent, England. It became the first global beer brand and its distinctive red triangle trademark was recognised across the British Empire and beyond.

While the exact provenance of Bass Ale today is difficult to determine due to international mergers and licensing agreements, it is known that the beer is brewed to the same standard and recipe, regardless of where it is produced.

Bass Ale's alcohol content

The alcohol content of Bass Ale varies depending on the type and where it is brewed.

Draught Bass, a 4.4% ABV cask-conditioned beer, is the most common variety near its heartlands of Burton upon Trent and Derbyshire. It is brewed by Marston's in Burton using English hops and dry hopping. It is described as "a classic ale with a malty, fruity, nutty aroma and a complex, satisfying flavour".

Bottled Bass, which is not bottle-conditioned, is brewed at Samlesbury, Lancashire, by AB InBev. It has an alcohol content of 5.1% ABV in the UK, and 5.2% ABV in Belgium, where it has been brewed under licence since the Interbrew takeover. In the US, bottled Bass has an alcohol content of 5% ABV and is brewed in Merrimack, New Hampshire, by Anheuser-Busch.

Bass also produces a range of other beers with different alcohol contents, including:

• Bass Extra Smooth: a 3.6% ABV pasteurised keg version of Bass, brewed to the same recipe and most popular in the South West of England.
• Bass Mild XXXX: a 3.1% ABV keg mild.
• Bass Best Scotch: a 3.4% ABV keg beer in the North East of England Scotch ale style, formerly brewed to 3.8% ABV.
• Shandy Bass: a low-alcohol shandy made with Bass beer and lemonade, introduced in 1972 and discontinued in 2018.

Bass Ale's taste

The Bass Ale you buy today may differ in taste from the original Bass Ale recipe. This is because Bass Ale is now owned by AB InBev, which has made changes to the beer's production. For example, Bass Ale is now made in New Hampshire, USA, whereas the original recipe was developed in Burton-upon-Trent, England.

Despite these changes, Bass Ale is still considered a good beer by many. It is described as a standard English Pale Ale with a smooth and sophisticated "drinkability". It has a fruity yeast aroma typical of English brews, with hints of malt, hops, water, and yeast. The beer is also said to have delicate hints of earthy floral notes, with the malt body playing an important role, featuring toffee, caramel, and toasty highlights. The mouthfeel is light to medium, and the finish is reminiscent of Guinness (without the bitter roasted malt flavor).

Some people who have tasted Bass Ale describe it as a malty treat, smooth, and easy to drink. Others have noted that it is incredibly satisfying to look at in a glass, with its iconic logo. However, some reviews suggest that Bass Ale may have gone downhill due to acquisitions, tasting watery and lacking character.

Overall, Bass Ale is a well-balanced beer with sweet malts and slightly bitter hops. It is a good choice for social drinking at pubs and is known for its high "drinkability".

Bass Ale's trademark

The Bass Ale triangle is the oldest registered trademark in the UK, dating back to 1876. The iconic red triangle was the first trademark issued in England and was featured in Édouard Manet's 1882 painting "A Bar at the Folies-Bergère". The Bass Ale triangle has also appeared in over 40 paintings by Picasso and in James Joyce's "Ulysses".

The Bass Brewery was founded in 1777 by William Bass in Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, England. The main brand was Bass Pale Ale, which became the highest-selling beer in the UK and the first global beer brand. By 1877, Bass had become the largest brewery in the world, with an annual output of one million barrels.

The Bass Ale triangle trademark was registered under the UK's Trade Marks Registration Act 1875, which came into effect on 1 January 1876. Legend has it that a Bass employee queued overnight outside the registrar's office to be the first in line to register the trademark when the office opened the next morning. As a result, Bass received the first six registrations, including the Bass Red Triangle for their pale ale and the Bass Red Diamond for their strong ale.

The Bass Ale triangle trademark is now owned by Brandbrew SA, an InBev subsidiary based in Luxembourg. In 2013, Bass Pale Ale was renamed Bass Trademark No.1 to reflect its status as the first registered trademark in the UK.

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