Brewery proud to honour pioneer
Bosses of a Black Country brewery has spoken of their pride at honouring one of the fathers of the industrial revolution who was born in the town they make their beer.
Holden's Brewery, based in Woodsetton, have launched a new ale commemorating Abraham Darby l.
He was born in Woodsetton in 1678 and found a quicker and more effective way of producing iron.
His invention helped to spark the industrial revolution and his grandson Abraham Darby lll, went on to build the world's first ironbridge, located in Ironbridge, Shropshire, which opened in 1781.
Holden's has named the beer 'Abraham Darby 1st Molton Glow Special'.
Abi Kemp, director at Holden's, said: “We take a huge amount of satisfaction in the fact that we have been continuously brewing on the same site for over 100 years and without our loyal Black Country drinkers this wouldn’t have been possible. It is such a happy coincidence that we are able to honour such an eminent historical figure, who was pivotal in making the world as we know it now, with a beer brewed where he was born, albeit quite a few centuries later!
“We’re all very excited about the project and we can’t wait to get it out there for people to try.”
The bottles carry a special label designed by Dudley artist Steve Field.
The ale forms part of a wider campaign launched by Upper Gornal and Woodsetton councillors Keiran Casey and Adam Aston, and Dudley North parliamentary candidate Ian Austin, who want to commemorate Mr Darby.
They are planning to get a statue of him erected in Woodsetton.
Councillor Keiran Casey said: “I am really pleased that we are being able to launch this project today alongside Holden's Brewery, one of our great local businesses in Woodsetton that has been in the area for over one hundred years.
Ian Austin added: “Lots of places claim to be the birthplace of the industrial revolution but the truth is that it started right here in Dudley when Dud Dudley and then Abraham Darby developed new ways of producing iron."
