Allsopp’s
Allsopp’s is a historic Burton upon Trent brewing name revived in the 2020s around reconstructed heritage beer recipes.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Allsopp’s traces its origins to the brewing business established by Benjamin Wilson, an innkeeper-brewer in Burton upon Trent, during the 1740s. Wilson initially brewed for his own premises and sold surplus beer to other innkeepers. Over several decades, the business expanded under Wilson and his son, both named Benjamin, and became one of Burton’s leading breweries. Around 1800, Benjamin Wilson junior brought his nephew Samuel Allsopp into the enterprise. In 1807, during a period when the Napoleonic blockade disrupted the brewery’s Baltic trade, Wilson sold the business to Allsopp for £7,000. Samuel Allsopp initially struggled to replace the lost export trade with domestic sales. A major turning point came in 1822, when he successfully reproduced the India pale ale associated with Hodgson, a London brewer. The resulting growth helped establish Allsopp as a major producer of pale ale and linked the company’s name with Burton’s expanding reputation as an international brewing centre. After Samuel Allsopp died in 1838, his sons Charles and Henry continued the business as Allsopp & Sons. The company built a large new brewery close to Burton railway station in 1859 and added a prominent office block in 1864. By 1861, it was reported to be Burton’s second-largest brewery after Bass. The business was incorporated as a public company in 1887 under the name Samuel Allsopp & Sons Limited. Its flotation generated considerable investor enthusiasm, but the anticipated returns failed to materialise and shareholders became dissatisfied within a few years. The company subsequently experienced financial and strategic difficulties. It lacked a substantial tied-house estate, while an ambitious lager plant introduced in 1897 failed to achieve the expected level of sales. Challenging trading conditions in the early twentieth century intensified pressure on the business. A proposed 1907 combination with Thomas Salt and Co and the Burton Brewery Company did not succeed, and Allsopp’s entered receivership in 1911. The receiver, Sir William Barclay Peat, appointed John J. Calder, an experienced brewery manager from Alloa, to lead the recovery. Calder restructured the company’s capital and expanded its tied-house network by acquiring smaller breweries. He also transferred the underused lager plant to Alloa in 1921; the facility later contributed to the development of beers associated with the Skol lineage. In 1935, Samuel Allsopp & Sons merged with Ind Coope Ltd to form Ind Coope and Allsopp Ltd. The Allsopp name was removed from the corporate identity in 1959, and Ind Coope was later incorporated into Allied Breweries in 1971. The name returned as a heritage brewing project in the 2020s. Jamie Allsopp, a direct descendant of Samuel Allsopp, brought together dispersed trademarks and located what was described as a surviving ledger containing historic recipes. Test brewing began in 2020, with the revival seeking to remain close to the historical formulations. The modern brand is therefore distinct from the former large industrial company, but presents itself as a continuation of its brewing heritage. Its historical portfolio includes India pale ale and Arctic Ale, a beer originally made for Sir George Nares’s 1875 North Pole expedition. A surviving unopened bottle of Arctic Ale sold at auction in 2015 for £3,300. The revived Allsopp’s name continues to be associated with Burton brewing, historical recipe reconstruction, and specialist heritage beer rather than with the former twentieth-century corporate group.
History
The history of Allsopp’s begins in Burton upon Trent during the 1740s, when Benjamin Wilson, an innkeeper-brewer, produced beer for his own premises and sold additional quantities to other publicans. His son, also named Benjamin, continued the operation and gradually established it as one of Burton’s leading breweries. Around 1800, Wilson junior brought his nephew Samuel Allsopp into the business. In 1807, after the Napoleonic blockade damaged the brewery’s Baltic trade, Wilson sold the brewery to Samuel Allsopp for £7,000. Allsopp initially faced difficulty replacing the interrupted export business with domestic trade. In 1822, however, he successfully copied the India pale ale made by Hodgson of London. This helped the brewery recover and supported the growth of its pale-ale business. Following Samuel’s death in 1838, his sons Charles and Henry operated the company as Allsopp & Sons. The business expanded substantially, constructing a new brewery near Burton railway station in 1859 and a major office building in 1864. By 1861, it ranked as Burton’s second-largest brewery after Bass. The company became a public limited company in 1887 as Samuel Allsopp & Sons Limited. Initial investor enthusiasm was followed by disappointment when the company’s financial performance fell below expectations. Under Samuel Allsopp, who later inherited the title of second Lord Hindlip, the brewery encountered repeated difficulties. Its relatively weak tied-house position limited distribution control, while a large lager plant installed in 1897 did not generate the expected sales. Wider difficulties in the British brewing trade contributed to the company’s decline. A proposed 1907 merger with Thomas Salt and Co and the Burton Brewery Company failed, and Allsopp’s went into receivership in 1911. Sir William Barclay Peat, acting as receiver, appointed John J. Calder, an experienced manager from Alloa, to restore the business. Calder reorganised the company’s capital and acquired smaller breweries to increase its tied-house estate. In 1921, he moved the idle lager plant to Alloa, where it later produced beers connected with the development of the Skol brand family. In 1935, Allsopp merged with Ind Coope Ltd, creating Ind Coope and Allsopp Ltd. The Allsopp name disappeared from the corporate name in 1959, and Ind Coope became part of Allied Breweries in 1971. The brand was revived in the 2020s. Jamie Allsopp, a direct descendant of Samuel Allsopp, consolidated historic trademarks and located a surviving ledger believed to contain authentic recipes. Test brewing began in 2020, with the stated aim of reproducing the historical beers as faithfully as possible. The revived brand draws particular attention to India pale ale and Arctic Ale. Arctic Ale was originally produced for Sir George Nares’s 1875 North Pole expedition, and an unopened bottle later became a notable piece of brewing memorabilia. In 2025, Innis & Gunn announced a planned new interpretation of the beer in partnership with Allsopp’s.
- 2020
Modern revival begins test brewing
[1]The revived Allsopp’s project began test brewing using reconstructed historical recipes.
- 1959
Allsopp name leaves the corporate identity
[1]The Allsopp name was dropped from the merged company’s name.
- 1935
Merger with Ind Coope
[1]Samuel Allsopp & Sons merged with Ind Coope Ltd to form Ind Coope and Allsopp Ltd.
- 1911
Receivership
[1]Following financial and trading difficulties, the brewery came under the control of receivers.
- 1887
Public company incorporation
[1]The business was incorporated as Samuel Allsopp & Sons Limited and issued shares to the public.
- 1859
New Burton brewery is built
[1]The company built a major new brewery near Burton railway station.
- 1838
The Allsopp sons continue the business
[1]After Samuel Allsopp’s death, Charles and Henry continued the brewery under the Allsopp & Sons name.
- 1822
India pale ale is reproduced
[1]Allsopp successfully reproduced Hodgson’s India pale ale, helping the brewery recover commercially and strengthen its pale-ale business.
- 1807
Samuel Allsopp acquires the brewery
[1]Samuel Allsopp purchased the brewery from his uncle Benjamin Wilson junior after the Napoleonic blockade disrupted its Baltic trade.
- 1740
Wilson family brewing begins
[1]Benjamin Wilson was brewing at an inn in Burton upon Trent and selling surplus beer to other innkeepers. The exact founding year is approximate, so it is not used as the brand’s formal founded year.
Products and positioning
A heritage British brewing brand focused on reviving the recipes, identity, and Burton upon Trent associations of the historic Samuel Allsopp & Sons brewery.
Beer · 1822
India Pale Ale
India pale ale is the beer style most closely associated with Allsopp’s historic commercial breakthrough. In 1822, Samuel Allsopp reproduced the India pale ale linked to Hodgson of London. The beer helped the brewery move beyond the loss of its Baltic trade and contributed to the wider reputation of Burton upon Trent as a centre of pale-ale production. The revived brand uses this historical association as a basis for modern recipe reconstruction.
Specialty beer · 1875
Arctic Ale
Arctic Ale was produced for Sir George Nares’s 1875 expedition toward the North Pole. Its survival as an unopened historical bottle has made it one of the most distinctive artifacts associated with the Allsopp name. A bottle was sold at auction in 2015, and the beer became the reference point for a planned modern interpretation announced by Innis & Gunn and Allsopp’s in 2025.
Brand decisions
2020
Heritage brand revivalStrategyBackground
Jamie Allsopp had consolidated historic trademarks and located a surviving ledger believed to contain authentic recipes.
Action taken
The revived company began test brewing with the stated objective of staying close to the historic formulations.
Aftermath
Allsopp’s re-entered the brewing landscape as a heritage-focused brand rather than as the former industrial brewery.
1935
Merger with Ind CoopeM&ABackground
Allsopp had undergone financial restructuring and recovery efforts after entering receivership in 1911.
Action taken
Samuel Allsopp & Sons merged with Ind Coope Ltd.
Aftermath
The combined business traded as Ind Coope and Allsopp Ltd; the Allsopp name was eventually dropped in 1959.
1897
Installation of a lager plantStrategyBackground
The company was pursuing expansion while lacking a sufficiently large tied-house estate.
Action taken
Allsopp installed an ambitious lager plant.
Aftermath
Sales did not meet expectations, creating a major financial burden and contributing to the company’s later difficulties.
1822
Reproduction of India pale aleProduct launchBackground
The loss of Baltic trade during the Napoleonic blockade forced the brewery to seek stronger domestic and alternative commercial opportunities.
Action taken
Samuel Allsopp reproduced an India pale ale associated with Hodgson of London.
Aftermath
The beer helped restore the company’s business and became a defining part of its brewing history.
Recent events
- 2025
Innis & Gunn announced a new Arctic Ale collaboration[1]
Product launch
Innis & Gunn announced plans to brew a new beer called Innis & Gunn 1875 Arctic Ale in partnership with Allsopp’s, using the surviving original bottle as a historical reference.
- 2020
Allsopp’s began test brewing for its revival[1]
Product launch
The revived Allsopp’s company began test brewing based on historical recipes after consolidating trademarks and locating a surviving recipe ledger.
- 2018
A recipe reconstruction project was announced[1]
Product launch
BrewDog’s 2018 manifesto stated that it was working with beer historian Martyn Cornell on a recreation of an original Allsopp beer recipe.
- 2017
BrewDog sought an Allsopp trademark[1]
Other
Scottish craft brewer BrewDog submitted an application to acquire an Allsopp trademark, bringing renewed attention to the dormant historic brewing name.
- 2015
Historic Arctic Ale bottle sold at auction[1]
Other
An unopened bottle of Allsopp’s Arctic Ale, originally associated with the 1875 North Pole expedition, was sold at auction.
Sources2 sources
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