Burton-on-Trent, United Kingdom
Bass registers the red triangle
Generally cited as the first trade mark entered under the UK Trade Marks Registration Act, and still one of the most recognisable marks in brewing.
1876
Why it matters
Marks the point at which beer brands became legally protectable property, which shaped the industry that followed.
How well this is established
| Certainty | Documented. Supported by contemporary records that survive and are agreed on. |
|---|---|
| When | 1876. Known to the year rather than to the day. |
| Where | Burton-on-Trent, United Kingdom |
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.
Either side of this
← 1873: Mechanical refrigeration reaches the brewery · 1876: Pasteur establishes that fermentation is microbial →
See the whole sequence on the beer history timeline.
Last reviewed 2026-08-16.