Burton-on-Trent, United Kingdom
Marston’s
Burton brewery and the last operator of the Burton union fermentation system, whose Pedigree is the beer most associated with it.
Why it matters
The final commercial home of the Burton union set, a fermentation system central to the history of pale ale.
Details
| Founded | 1834 |
|---|---|
| Where | Burton-on-Trent, United Kingdom |
| Status | Operating |
| Ownership | The brewing operations moved into a joint venture with Carlsberg in 2020, later restructured. Union-set operation has been reduced and its status has changed more than once; treat any statement about current use as dated. Recorded 2026-08-16; ownership changes without announcement. |
Reference beers
- Banks’s Mild
A West Midlands mild, and one of very few surviving examples of a style that was once the default British pint.
- Marston's Pedigree
The beer most associated with the Burton union fermentation system, and with the sulphurous "Burton snatch" that high-sulphate water produces.
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Styles it is associated with
- Best bitter — A step up from ordinary bitter in strength and depth, with more malt body while staying firmly sessionable.
- English pale ale — The bottled British pale ale tradition: biscuity malt, earthy and floral English hops, and a firm, dry, mineral finish.
Traditions
- Burton pale ale brewing — The nineteenth-century Staffordshire pale ale trade built on gypsum-rich well water, high hopping rates and export-stable beer.
- British cask ale — Beer that completes its fermentation in the container it is served from and is dispensed without added gas, at cellar rather than fridge temperature.
Other breweries in United Kingdom
Adnams · Bass · Beavertown Brewery · Belhaven Brewery · Big Drop Brewing Co. · Black Sheep Brewery · BrewDog · Caledonian Brewery
Last reviewed 2026-08-16.