Black Beer Buying Guide: Mathers Edition

Mather's Black Beer is a Yorkshire tradition, with a history dating back to 1555. It is a unique, flat, thick, and strong black beer with an alcoholic volume of 8.5%. The beer is produced by Continental Wine and Food (CWF) in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England. It was originally brewed in 1901 and includes ingredients such as malt extract, barley sugar, brown sugar, and wine yeast. While it is primarily consumed in West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire, it has gained a cult following, with people inquiring about its availability in supermarkets and off-licenses. Mather's Black Beer is typically used as a mixer, combined with lemonade to create a Sheffield Stout or milk, and is known for its distinctive sweet and malty flavor.

Mather's Black Beer is available at Bodyfuel Off-Licence in Yorkshire, England

While Mather's Black Beer is primarily consumed in West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire, it has gained a reputation beyond these regions as well. The beer is known for its unusual characteristics, including its duty-free status due to its high original gravity and the absence of hops in its recipe. It is also notable for its high vitamin C content, a feature that dates back to when it was used to help prevent scurvy among sailors.

Mather's Black Beer is an acquired taste, often described as thick, sweet, and very malty. It is almost exclusively used as a mixer, with lemonade being a popular choice to create a refreshing and malty shandy known locally as a Sheffield Stout. Some also enjoy it with milk or as a flavouring agent.

Bodyfuel Off-Licence, located in Yorkshire, offers Mather's Black Beer to its customers, providing an opportunity to experience this regional delicacy. The beer has a strong following, with some considering it an integral part of Yorkshire culture and Christmas traditions.

If you're in Yorkshire and looking to try something unique, be sure to stop by Bodyfuel Off-Licence and pick up a bottle of Mather's Black Beer. It's a great way to get a taste of local history and indulge in a beverage that has become a beloved part of the region's culture and traditions.

It is also available at Global Wines

Mather's Black Beer, a traditional Yorkshire product, is available at Global Wines. It is a very regional taste, with consumption largely confined to West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire. The beer is brewed by Huddersfield's Continental Wine and Food (CWF) and has been enjoyed by Yorkshire folk for generations.

Mather's Black Beer is an unusual drink for several reasons. Firstly, despite being more than 8% ABV, it is duty-free due to its very high original gravity. Secondly, it contains no hops, which is uncommon for a beer. Thirdly, it is almost exclusively used as a mixer, as it is thick, mouth-coating, very sweet, and very malty. Some adventurous souls have tried it neat, but most find it more palatable when mixed with lemonade or milk.

When mixed with lemonade, it becomes a refreshing and malty shandy known in Yorkshire as a Sheffield Stout. It is also sometimes enjoyed as a flavouring for milk, especially by pregnant women, although there is a legend that pregnant women who drink black beer will have twins!

Mather's Black Beer has a long history, dating back to 1555 when it began as "spruce beer", made by mashing and fermenting spruce pine leaves. In 1769, Captain Cook, the famous Yorkshire explorer, started giving his sailors black beer to ward off scurvy on their long voyages, as it is high in vitamin C. During World War II, the UK government ensured that black beer production was not affected by rationing, recognising its importance for the morale of communities in northern mining towns.

Huddersfield's Continental Wine and Food (CWF) is the sole producer of Mather's Black Beer, having bought the brand from its inventors in 1995. However, production of this beloved regional drink finally ceased in 2014 due to changes in taxation policies. So, if you want to taste a piece of Yorkshire history and culture, be sure to visit Global Wines and get your hands on a bottle of Mather's Black Beer before it's too late!

The beer is a traditional Yorkshire product, largely consumed in West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire

Mathers Black Beer is a traditional Yorkshire product, largely consumed in West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire. It was originally brewed in 1901 in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, and has been described as "a drop of Yorkshire history".

Mathers Black Beer is no longer in production, but it was the last known surviving Black Beer produced in the UK. It was a concentrated malt liquor with a unique, deliciously sweet and malty taste, and was also nourishing and rich in vitamin C.

The beer is often mixed with lemonade to make a refreshing drink known as a "Sheffield Stout". This mixture was said to have medicinal qualities and was popular with the mining communities in Yorkshire.

Mathers Black Beer was enjoyed by people in various parts of Yorkshire, including Sheffield, Leeds, and Huddersfield. It was also consumed in other parts of the UK, such as London, Acocks Green, and Flamborough Head.

Today, Mathers Black Beer is a sought-after collector's item, with full bottles being considered valuable by enthusiasts.

Mather's Black Beer is produced by Huddersfield's Continental Wine and Food (CWF)

Mathers Black Beer is produced by Huddersfield's Continental Wine and Food (CWF), a leading wine and alcoholic drinks importer, producer, bottler, and distributor. CWF has trading partners across both the on-trade and off-trade sectors, including major multiple retail groups, independent cash and carry, and wholesale trade. The company is based in the former St Andrew's Church on Leeds Road in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England.

Mathers Black Beer was originally brewed in 1901 and has ingredients such as malt extract, barley sugar, brown sugar, and wine yeast. It has been described as having a black appearance with a small off-white head, and an aroma of black liquorice, alcohol, plum, maple syrup, and some tart and toasted tones. The flavour is said to be extremely sweet, consisting of the same elements as the aroma.

Some people have reviewed Mathers Black Beer as undrinkable, while others have enjoyed it mixed with lemonade or milk. It has also been used as an ingredient in a Sheffield Stout, where it is mixed with ginger beer or lemonade.

Reviews of Mathers Black Beer can be found on websites such as Brewver and Untappd, where users have shared their experiences and opinions of the drink.

The beer is often mixed with lemonade or milk

A search for where to buy Mathers Black Beer reveals that it is available at a number of online retailers and local supermarkets. This beer, a type of dark lager, is often served with a unique twist—it is commonly mixed with either lemonade or milk! This may seem like an unusual combination, but it has become a popular way to enjoy this particular brew.

When mixed with lemonade, the beer takes on a refreshing, tangy flavor. The lemonade adds a crisp, citrusy note to the dark lager, creating a drink that is perfect for summer days or for those who prefer their beer on the sweeter side. The ratio of beer to lemonade can be adjusted to taste, but typically, a ratio of 1:3 or 1:4 is used, ensuring the beer remains the dominant flavor.

Alternatively, mixing Mathers Black Beer with milk creates a creamy, smooth beverage. This combination is often favored by those who enjoy a more subtle, mellow drinking experience. The milk tempers the bitterness of the beer, resulting in a drink that is almost like a grown-up, malted milkshake. Again, the ratios can be adjusted, but a more even blend of beer to milk is usually preferred for this mixture.

These unique mixes are a great way to customize your drinking experience and discover new flavors. The versatility of Mathers Black Beer means it can be tailored to suit a range of tastes and preferences, making it an enjoyable drink for a diverse range of consumers. So, whether you're a traditionalist who sticks to drinking it straight from the bottle or someone who enjoys experimenting with new flavor combinations, Mathers Black Beer is a versatile drink that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways.

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