As Salford celebrates 100 years since becoming a city this month, Lark Hill Brewery, the University of Salford’s own micro-brewery specialising in craft and artisan beers, ales, and IPAs, has created a unique beer brand for the milestone.
Named ‘Dreamed a Dream’, after the classic folk song Dirty Old Town written by Salford’s own Ewan MacColl, the beer, a golden ale, is a “very clean and light golden drink with a floral element,” coming from New Zealand hops giving a citrus, pine, and resonant flavour. The aim was to “capture the essence and spirt of the city.”
Served regularly around 100 years ago, golden ale is a classic traditional British drink. Jack Dixon, head brewer at Lark Hill, has crafted a traditional golden ale base with some creative additions to define the taste of Salford.
Dixon said he wanted to “do something that’s very inclusive – that’s very Salford. It’s the taste of Salford captured in a beer for the city.”
His inspiration was rooted in the classic beers served in Salford pubs for generations – the 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.”
Dreamed a Dream will be available on tap, exclusively at regular uni collaborator The Old Fire Station, 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.
Dixon talks passionately about his celebratory beer: “The beer itself is perfect,” he asserts. “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.”
