Craft beer drinkers across Salford can quench their thirst this summer with a new ale brewed to celebrate the city’s centenary year.
Lark Hill Brewery on the Crescent have launched a golden ale named ‘Dreamed a Dream’, paying homage to the classic folk song Dirty Old Town written by Salford folk singer Ewan MacColl.
The microbrewery described the beer as “a very clean and light golden drink with a floral element coming from New Zealand hops, giving a citrus, pine, and resonant flavour.”
According to the brewers behind the special centenary drink, Dreamed a Dream captures the “essence and spirit of the city.”
That’s partly down to the choice of beer brewers landed upon when deciding which drink should take centre stage for Salford’s 100th year as a city.
They chose golden ale because it is a classic and traditional British drink, which would have been served regularly 100 years ago, when Salford was granted city status by Royal Charter because of its industrial importance and booming population.
Jack Dixon, Head Brewer at Lark Hill, has crafted a traditional golden ale base with some creative additions to define the taste of Salford.
Jack said his approach was: “To do something that’s very inclusive – that’s very Salford. It’s the taste of Salford captured in a beer for the city.”
Jack’s inspiration was rooted in the classic beers served in Salford pubs for generations; this golden ale is made with UK malt and hops to provide a strong traditional base, with US yeast and New Zealand hops to recognise Salford’s global reach as a vibrant city for innovation and creativity: this is a beer for Salford as it was, as it is, and as it will be.
Dreamed a Dream golden ale is available on tap at the brewery’s Old Fire Station site and in cans for wider distribution and sale.
The branding and design on the can was part of a student project in the University’s graphic design course, and incorporates small graphical depictions of buildings, areas, and things from across the Salford city region, with the main base colour being the iconic Salford pink.
Jack talks passionately about this celebratory beer saying “The beer itself is perfect. It’s very drinkable and is by no means a boring beer.
“When you crack open the can and pour it into a glass, it’s very bright and the colour is lovely, it’s perfect. It’s the kind of beer I like to drink, and with Dreamed a Dream I hope I’ve done Salford proud.”
More information can be found on Lark Hill Brewery’s Instagram page.
