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The Discovery of Non-Alcoholic Beer

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Whether you love it or hate it, non-alcoholic drinks have become a lot more common in pubs as of recent. I have tried some nice non-alcoholic cider and some very… not nice non-alcoholic beers in recent years, but who invented the De-Alcoholised process?

Who Invented Non-Alcoholic Beer?

In an article from the National Guardian in January of 1911, Mr Otto Overbeck from Hewitt Bros Ltd based in Lincolnshire claims that he invented non-alcoholic beer. Overbeck had discovered the secret after 30 years of experiment and research. The process is said to:

a method whereby it is possible to take from beer and stout the power to produce intoxication, while leaving their flavour, sparkle, palatability, and nutritive, digestive and feeding powers unimpaired.

Mr Overbeck then explains that chemists have been trying to eliminate alcohol from beer for years, but when they did, they destroyed the palatability because of the temperature. Overbeck’s secret was to subject lukewarm beer to a brisk current of carbonic acid gas to drive out the alcohol.

The great side effect of the process

When the process to make the beer non-alcoholic was completed, it created a very nice side effect that was of great commercial value for the company.

For every hogshead of beer that was treated, 3 gallons of proof spirit was driven out. This spirit was ‘an excellent mild whisky’ and of course, could be sold as such.

The whisky that was produced emitted no fumes in combustion, burned clearly, steadily and without smoke or smell. Mr Overbeck thought that these advantages were sufficient to oust petrol from the market. The only thing they would need to do is methylate the spirit to prevent chauffeurs from getting drunk!

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Mr H A Hedley

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In 1911 Mr Henry Anthony Hedley was the managing director of J & R Tennent, Limited located at Wellpark Brewery, Dennistoun. Mr Hedley was born in Cape Town, South Africa and it was there that he received his education.

Mr H A Hedley

When he was 19 years old he left the colony for England, settling down in London for a short business engagement. As a result of his excellent education, he rapidly advanced, and in one of the Science and Art Departments at South Kensington, he found an opportunity to display his abilities.

Thanks to his energy, Mr Hedley received the appointment of assistant general superintendent of the Fisheries Exhibition of 1883, and in the two secceeding years he occupied the position of manager at the “Health and Inventions” and the “Indian and Colonial” Exhibitions.

The excellent manner in which Mr Hedley discharged his duties at these functions led to him being called upon to look after the first Edinburgh International Exhibition, held in 1886.

Two years later he was entrusted with Glasgow’s first Exhibition, and here he achieved his most notable success. At the close of the Exhibition he entered the employment of the Pollock Extracting Company and shortly afterwards he engaged in another business career in the Metropolis, during which period he acted on the Committee of the Kimberley Exhibition.

Glasgow saw Mr Hedley once more in 1901, when he returned to conduct the addairs of the 1901 Exhibition in Kelvingrove, and at the conclusion of that successful venture he joined the firm of J & R Tennent, LTD and speedily rose from the position of general manager to that of managing director, and in this capacity he acted until his death.

Mr Hedley had been in failing health for some time and passed away on Thursday the 28th of December 1911 at his residence, 9 Derby Crescent, Glasgow.

For more information on Tennents Brewery Click Here

Scottish & Newcastle

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Renovate four of their Welcome Inn’s.

A WARM WELCOME BACK TO THE INN’S…

It’s cheers all round for regular customers at four of Glasgow’s Welcome Inns for Scottish & Newcastle Breweries, who own the inns, have reopened four of their most popular pubs after spending more than £100,000 renovating them.

The Pubs are the Iron Horse in West Nile Street, the Atholl Arms in Renfield Street, the County Roadhouse in Springboig, and the Loudon Bar in Duke Street.

Two had been badly damaged by fire while the two others underwent extensive face-lifts. Now all four have reopened, just in time to make Christmas for their regular customers a specially happy occasion.

Athole Arms interior Renfield Street 1978

The Atholl Arms in Renfield Street is a typical Glasgow pub with a warm and cosy atmosphere. The pub was closed for two months while it was given a complete face-lift inside and out, and reopened just under two weeks ago.

Mr Sandy Chalmers has been mine host at the Atholl Arms for twelve years now and takes pride in being on first name terms with all his regular customers. He is particularly pleased with the interior decoration of the pub and feels that the warm red upholstery makes customers feel really at home.

The Atholl Arms has always provided snacks, and this service has been reintroduced since the pub reopened.

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Louden Bar interior 1978

The Louden Bar interior 1978.

The Louden Bar in Duke Street has always been known as a man’s pub. But now that it has been refurbished it is the ideal spot for a couple to enjoy a pleasant evening out.

About £25,000 has been spent on the small but cosy pub upgrading the decor. Regular customers will realise that the pub is bigger than it was. That’s because Scottish Brewers took over an adjacent close and by knocking down some walls have incorporated it in the bar.

The new decor is in the 30’s style with lots of cigarette ad mirrors round the walls, and the floor has been semi-carpeted. As manager John Dillon, who has been at the Louden for about three years, said: “The pub has been closed for about two months but I think the time and money spent has been well worth it.”

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This Horse is a great bet…

The Iron Horse is one of Glasgow’s most popular pubs, particularly with the younger set.

Until it caught fire Last October, The Iron Horse operated on three floors, the basement Sidings Bar, the ground floor lounge and the first floor restaurant.

In order to re-open the premises in time for Christmas, Welcome Inns decided to redecorate the ground and basement floors only. A plush restaurant will be re-opened on the first floor next year.

The Sidings Bar has been transformed into Senor Chic’s, where meals will be served with a distinctly Mexican flavour.

The Iron Horse re-opens today.

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The County Inn Springboig interior 1978

Interior view of the County Inn. 1978.

It was December 13 last year that the lounge at the County Roadhouse in Springboig was destroyed by fire. The Lounge was always very popular with local residents and it was a bitter blow to them and manageress Mrs Patsy McGuckien.

But last week a new Lounge/ restaurant was unveiled, which promises to become the main attraction in the Springboig area. “We have live music every evening and cabaret on special nights. Soon we hope to be able to hold dances,” Mrs McGuckien explained.

The menu in the new Lounge/ Restaurant will have dishes like gammon steaks and haddock, but Mrs McGuckien plans to have a more extensive menu should her customers desire it.

The decor in the new lounge is very bright with circles being the main theme. Much of the seating is in semi-circles.

Scottish & Newcastle Breweries have spent £60,000 on the County Roadhouse, but they think it will be worth it.

Greenhead Brewery

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Canning Street now London Road, Glasgow.

Staff at the Greenhead Brewery 1890

Staff at the Greenhead Brewery in Canning Street now London Road, Calton. 1890.

The Greenhead Brewery was built c1800 by John Struthers of the Gallowgate Brewery in Kent Street, Glasgow in the east end of the city, and was acquired by his son Robert by James Steel in 1853. Five years later Steel expanded his brewing business to Edinburgh, and in 1865 went into partnership with George Coulson to form Steel, Coulson & Co. Steel died in 1891 but the Greenhead Brewery continued to brew beer until 1946. The bottlers Joseph Dunn Ltd, which had leased part of the buildings since 1932, acquired the entire complex in 1960. The firm became Dunn & Moore after a merger with D & C Moore. Thanks to the Mitchell Library.

James Steel (1821-1891) inherited his father’s brewery in Tureen Street in Calton in the 1840’s. In 1853 he moved his brewing operation to the Greenhead Brewery in Canning Street now London Road, which he purchased from Robert Struthers.

In 1858 he acquired the Craigend Brewery in Cannongate, Edinburgh, from J & W Burnett. The Glasgow Brewery, specialised in the Brewing of Stouts and porters, while mild and pale ales were brewed in Edinburgh. George F Coulson joined Steel to form the partnership Steel, Coulson & Co. in 1865.


In 1874 Steel Coulson & Co. sold Craigend Brewery to Andrew Drybrough & Co and acquired the City of Edinburgh Brewing Co.’s Brewery on Abbey Hill in Edinburgh. The new brewery was renamed Croft – an – Righ (The Kings Fields). Steel subsequently sold his interests in the business to Coulson, who became sole partner.


Coulson & Co. Ltd was registered in May 1888 as a Limited Liability Company to acquire the business at a purchase price of £130,000. The joint managing directors were Frank and John Laurie Coulson, the sons of George (Who had retired from the business). The company took over Robert Deuchor Ltd of the Sandyford Brewery in Newcastle – Upon – Tyne in 1941. Most of the site of the Greenhead Brewery were leased to bottling companies in the 1930s, and the site was sold to James Calder & Co. in 1946. Vaux associated breweries Ltd, Sunderland acquired a controlling interest in the company in 1956 and completed the acquisition in 1959. The Company owned 16 licensed houses at that time.


The Croft – an – Righ brewery ceased to brew in 1960 although Vaux continued to make beers in Steel, Coulson name at the Park Brewery in Edinburgh. The malting’s & Bottling plant at the site continued in use until 1966, when remaining buildings associated with the business were demolished.

James White – Agent for McEwans

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Glasgow Agent, for McEwan’s, Edinburgh, Brewery.

Mr James White

Mr James White, 1892.

Mr James White, Agent for McEwan’s, Edinburgh, Brewery. Mr William McEwan the founder of the firm was an M. P. in 1892. The firm had travellers and agents in every part of the world and the staff was one of the largest of any similar establishment in Scotland. The turnover for 1891 was over half a million pounds. In Glasgow Mr White was assisted by four travellers.

James was born in 1847 in a village in the neighbourhood of Stirling. When he was seventeen years of age, he left home and headed for Glasgow. He found employment in various firms in the town until he joined the staff on McEwan’s, Edinburgh Brewery. For twenty years he had, without a break, been connected with the firm, eighteen of which he was a traveller, moving to and fro popularising and extending the influence of his employers. Mr White looked after himself, and was a great believer in the axiom that a sound mind in a sound body is essential to success in whatever walk of life a man chooses. He was a very hard working man, one of McEwan’s best workers, he did not believe in a flourish of trumpets, but worked quietly away, regardless of the competition around him, with the result that McEwan’s beer was almost universally used, not only in Glasgow, but throughout the west of Scotland.

James White was not a politician, nor did he take part in any particular interest in affairs connected with the city, but for years he had been an active promoter of every scheme that had for its object the consolidation of the Trade and the benefit of its members. He had a large family and makes his home his castle, and seldom or ever takes part in social gatherings. He attributes the success of McEwan’s ales to their quality. If the public did not find them up to what they were represented, he was confident they would not accept them.

Mr White was in charge of the agency in Glasgow and he had shown the firm that he was a capable businessman and well fitted to guide and direct the men under his control, he proved a valuable acquisition to the commercial life of Glasgow.

Tennent Caledonian Breweries

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Duke Street, Glasgow.

Group at Tennent Caledonian Breweries 1975

Tennent Caledonian Breweries were hosts at a tasting and buffet in the Radnor Hotel, Clydebank. (Left to right) Mr. E. Tarquini, Cisco; Mr. D. E. M. Matthews, Tennent Caledonian; Mr. P. Walters, The Maggie; Miss S. Hytch; Mrs. P. Walters; Mr. A. M. Brown, Station catering manager, Travellers Fare, Glasgow; Miss M. Irving, bars manager, Queen Street Station; Mr. W. H. Finlay, sales director, Tennent Caledonian; Mrs. R Fretwell; Mr. M. B. P. Fraser, Tennent Caledonian, area sales manager, Glasgow West; Mr. R. Fretwell, The Oriental. 1975.

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Group of Tennent Caledonian Breweries 1975

Included are Mr. J. G. Angus, Tennent Caledonian, regional sales manager west; Mrs. and Mr. R. Kinloch, The Vale; Mrs. and Mr. E. Giannini, Ben Lomond, Balloch; Mr. J. R. D. Swan, marketing director, Tennent Caledonian; Miss E. Moores and Mr. L. Paleja, the Albany Hotel, Glasgow. 1975.

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In 1978 Mr M D E M Matthews, at present marketing director of Tennent Caledonian Breweries, becomes sales and marketing director with effect from February 1 as a result of a restructuring of the company’s sales division. This restructuring, as reported in last month’s issue of the Scottish Licensed Trade Guardian, arises from the departure of Mr W H (Bill) Finlay, sales director.

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1978…

James Horn Tennent Caledonian Breweries 1978

After a lifetime in the trade, starting as a boy of 14, James Horn, representative. Tennent Caledonian Breweries, has retired.

He is seen (right) receiving a presentation from Mr. M. D. E. M. Matthews, sales and marketing director. Mr Horn joined J & R Tennent in 1954, covering the south and west areas of Glasgow and later, with Tennent Caledonian, he looked after Glasgow south and the Clyde coast.