Usher's

Mann's Original Brown Ale

ABV 2.8% • Vol 500 ml • bottle • UK • Cheap • Flavour 6.5
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Now brewed for Usher's by Refresh UK (to Mann Crossman and Paulin's original recipe), this brown ale has been around in one form or another since 1902 and is one of the better known brown ales and is widely available in UK pubs, bars and off-licences. The review bottle, kindly supplied to us by Refresh UK, includes a recipe for a rich fruit pudding on the back label.
It pours a very dark brown, with a bubbly, short-lived head - in fact, it looks a lot like a glass of coke. Nose is of burnt, roasty malt and caramel. The first sip is immediately malty, with a gentle roastiness and some caramel sweetness. These flavours continue as a sort of ovaltine-like maltiness, leaving a sweetish aftertaste with a lingering hint of burnt-sugar bitterness. Although at a mere 2.8% it is inevitably going to be quite light bodied, the depth of flavour is nonetheless impressive for a beer that your granny could drink all night. A classic session beer for those who like good old-fashioned malt flavours but don't want to be under the table by closing time.

OBBD reviewer: Sparks

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Review updated 06 July 1998

Comments

I agree. Manns is a great drink for thse times when you want a good, satisfying beer flavour but without too much alcohol. A good midweek drink.
Richard Luscombe

My favourite bottled beer! It's smoky, malty and tasty despite its strength. A pint of 'brown and bitter' is also a nice combination at times...
Oliver Hylton

Typical granny ale for sure - weak and sweet with chocolate flavours, yet very yummy! Not really a brown ale, more of a mix of mild and milk stout, yet this is a classic example of what was known as brown ale in Southern England in the first half of the 20th century. I'm not sure who actually makes this any more - my bottle states "Brewed and bottled for Ushers Brewing", but no clue as to the brewer. This is a little gem with bags of flavour, but the sweetness would prevent it being suitable as a session beer.
Silk Tork

Silk: I'm pretty sure it's now brewed by the Burtonwood Brewery in Warrington. Ushers used to belong to Watney/Grand Met, who transferred Manns Brown there at some point. Ushers then hung on to the brand when it went independent on the breakup of the parent. The Ushers brewery was then shut when the owners decided to concentrate on their pub estate, and the brands passed to a holding company called Refresh UK, who contracted them out to Thomas Hardy, now a freestanding brewery after former owning company Eldridge Pope also turned itself into a pubco. Hardy formed a group with Burtonwood and that, as far as I know, is how this southern English minor classic ended up in deepest Cheshire.
Des de Moor

Me and my friends drink this ale, at first we didn't like it but it seemed to grow on us, now it's our favorite ale!
tom allsop

The Beer is very good and i think i should get free samples lets make this country a manns country
Phill

VERY NASTY INDDED
MR JOHN KEMP

Manns is one of those surprising beers that, due to its modest strength you'd never consider when you're out on the town with 'the lads' and only 17. However, the sooner you try it the better because it's a fine drink. It is in no way lacking in flavour and makes a pleasant drink when you want a sociable drink or two.
Richard

Hi,
I used to drink this beer but am unable to find it anymore. Do you know where, close to Putney in London where I could buy some ?
Barry Jones

After 3 years in England as a member of the USAF. I found this beer a memorable one. Its been 20 years since I left and I still can't drink the sewage that is sold in the USA. I long for Manns on a weekly basis.
Mark V

As well as being a fine drink, it is excellent for cooking - beef in Manns, cooked long and slow is wonderful!
John Lees

A good lunchtime drink. Hard to find though, and mostly availiable in traditional back street locals, and not in trendy chain bars.
Patrick Gray

Classic old fashioned Brown Ale, as sweet & malty as any Mild in the country. Absolutely delicious & a credit that it is still brewed in these days of fizzy designed brews. Wouldn't it be sublime to have a batch cask conditioned - wonderful!
Ted Smith

it looks good
jill schofield

Barry
My dad drinks this and had the same problem finding it in london. Best place he has found is Asda they always seem to stock some.
chris

My favorite ale but difficult to buy in Plymouth. Found it in Safeways once but it is gone now. Do anybody know where you can find it in Plymouth?
[You could try looking at our growing list of beer shops, or ask a question in the forum -Ed.]
Ian Berg

where can I buy this beer. I live in the Greater Manchester Area/ or Cheshire. North West England
Vikki Donovan

Vikki, They stock it in my local Sainsburys (Oldham) - perhaps you could check out your local branch or visit sunny Oldham!
John Lees

The most perfect beer in the cosmos
GOD

A very fine ale indeed.When mixed with a good Mild/Dark Mild,sensation ripples are likely to form around the drinker's mouth.Yes,folks,it's that good.
Andrew hill

Excelent Beer!
David

Very tasty stuff, as said above Asda always seem to have it, difficult to find elsewhere.
Steve Cooper

It is great. problem is it in most pubs it can cost £1.40 a bottle, so if you want a pints worth thats an expensive pint. Ive never personally seen a 500ml bottle like the one in the picture. It needs promoting for sure cos its superb and the majority of people are missing out
richy boyo

Richy Boyo, the 500 ml bottles are available in Sainsburys and probably some other supermarkets rather than in the alehouses.
John Lees

Yes very difficult to find - but 85p a bottle in my local Asda. I have not found it anywhere else. Any ideas?
Tom Bentley

I find Mann's Brown Ale to be an excellent beer, - my favourite, but apart from Asda, where can I buy it? Tesco's don't sell, neither does any of the local off licences.
Jim Ebling

I like it, when I can find it. Why not publicise it more!
John Jackson

On sale for £1.00 per 500ml bottle at Tesco, Honiton when I called in recently (May 2004). As far as I know, still contract brewed at Burtonwood (as Des writes above). However, with the acquisition of Wychwood by Refresh UK it's possible that production could move there.
Trevor Pike

Usually on sale at my local Tesco at £0.98. Dismissed it as being weak as water at 2.8%ABV, but was pleasantly surprised when I actually tried it. Not a bad beer, reminds me of my youth.
Glyn B

Even the Review on this drink is 6 years old. Nobody seems to care. Surely someone from the brewers must see this website, and realise there is a market for this very good Brown Ale. Who the hell makes it?????
Jim Ebling

I demand a Manns website with merchandise. .....Enjoyed best when cold and poured over a half of draught Tetley bitter......Heaven
Gag

Always drank this beer, but have trouble buying it, our Asda has stopped selling it. Where can I get it from around St Helens area
Mike

This is my favourite beer, I have my family bring bottles over from England. I can drink it by itself or mix with bitter to have a delicious Brown Bitter. Does anyone know if you can obtain this product here in the USA?
Jeff Tod

WE STOCK MANN'S BROWN ALL THE TIME.ITS ONE OF OUR BIGGIST SELLERS,BOLLOCKS TO SUPERMARKET'S THEY ONLY STOCK WHAT WILL GIVE THEM THE BIGGEST PROFIT,WE STOCK WHAT PEOPLE WANT.(FINCHVIDAS@AOL.COM)TEL. 02380448479.SOUTHAMPTON.TOTALY INDEPENDANT OFF LICENCE FOR THE PEOPLE
MARTIN

I found it in Sainsburys a couple of weeks ago, - at about £1-25 a bottle. I then checked at ASDA who were selling it at 85p a bottle, only to find they no longer stock it!
Jim Ebling

Also available in Abbey Stores, Salisbury. www.abbeystores.com 21/6/04
Charles May

Ah, the memories! As a young airman stationed at Alcombury Air Force Base (East Anglia, near Petersburough, 1980), I discovered this elixir. Have searched in vein since that time here in America. As a sign of the Internet's growth, I couldn't even find a posting three years ago, and now, well, I think I may have found a source. Just an awesome drink, the colder, the better, I used to get it at the Huntingdon pub, just off base, brought up in the winter, from the cellar, I think I am going to cry!
Rick

my dad used to work for them when they was in white chapel and he told me that it was number 1 seller in London. he also told me that when courage bought out grand met during the early 90s i remember coz i was still at school when manns brown ale was sold. i also use to work for courages but i have never tasted manns but after i read the reviews i might give it a taste.
Daniel

I haven't drunk this beer in years but I still remember it as being a real treat. I first tried it when I found myself in a Watney's pub and instead of the usual lager or cider that I normally drank in Watney's pubs, I couldn't drink the awful Red Barrel or the ghastly Watney's Special, I opted for Mann's Brown. What a delight I discovered. I must have a look in my local Asda and see if they stock it.
Roger

I've made our local order it in for us and they did! lol, so come over to The Royal Oak in Heckington, Sleaford, Lincs and enjoy a tipple with us !!
Sarah

This is the best beer i have ever had but i have been having problems getting hold of it is it possible to buy direct as my supply has dried up
Gary

i too love this & find it hard to get, unless you holiday in Norfolk as must pubs sell it, anyone know who sells it ? ( asda near us have stopped )
Adrian

Do not agree with the generally positive reviews above. Watery consistency, mild liquorice taste and thats about it. I suppose it has a function - you could drink several pints and not become inebriated. However there are some very flavoursome beers available in the 3 to 4 abv range which I prefer to this 2.8 abv brew.
geoff

this is one of the best beers ever but to bad its hard to find in south carolina it a drout here looking to get some brue
benzo

I live in the US and Manns Brown ale is the best beer I have ever drank, I can't tolerate our beer now. I lived in the UK from 1983 till 1985 @ RAF Alconbury. Would anyone know where i can get Manns brown ale in the states? Thanks Mark Pentecost Hagerstown Indiana marciap@skyenet.net
Mark Pentecost

I remember my dad bringing this beer home from the off-licence in large, cold bottles with enormous hard rubber screw stoppers. Sometimes I would take a secret sip, and quickly become disorientated, as I was only five years old, and rather meagrely built.
winterland

I find it very strange that Ushers, (if they are the people who produce it produce it) have made no attempt to solve the distribution problem that clearly exists, and have added no comments to this site. I wish it was my brewery!
Jim Ebling

I too find it quite hard to find in shops, I have to travel to the nearest Asda to be sure - half an hour away!!
Tom Smith

Nothing better than a Mann's Brown Ale and a Pork Pie for a pub lunch. A memory from forty years ago in Southampton. Mozza in Australia
Mozza

I live in the US now, but my grandfather was a lorry driver for Manns at Whitechapel. My first under age glass of beer was a Manns Brown in the staff bar at the Albion Brewery. A request: Could someone be kind enough to send me a Mann Brown Bottle label? It would bring back many fond memories and also be of use for the Manns pub on my model railway layout topshednj2@aol.com
Tom Burns

The first time I had Mann's Brown Ale, I was on my very first TDY to RAF Fairford in 1981 from Seymour Johnson AFB, NC. I was an Assistant Crew Chief on a KC-135A. My friend and Boom Operater Mark Carson and I went on a pub crawl down to the Village of Fairford. After trying everything from Stouts to Bitters, I tried Mann's Brown Ale, and I haven't found any Ale to compare with it. I took 2 cases home with me on that trip and every trip after that. If anyone knows if it is sold in the US, please inform me as to where, or if I can mail order it.
Jerry (MAC) Mckinney

used to work mann crossmans , drank the brown ale ,,,liked it ,,,,,,still like it ,,,,,but hard to find
brian moule

Used to drink a pint of manns brown and mild at lunch when working at Mr.Kiplings when 17yrs old in 1978, great refreshing drink then and an old friend now. Just sipping a pint I bought at Tesco in Portmadog -a delight
rowdy wagon

In the early 70's, when I had my pub, The Crown, Shifnal, Shrops, I used to sell a hundred dozen bottles a week. Ray Forest was my rep
eddie Main

As a lad I used to drink Forest Brown with Starkey Nighton & Fords Mild commonly know in Devon and Cornwall as a Brown split. Tasted like Blackcurrent Rowntrees fruit gums. Starkey KF got bought up and melted down by Whitbread, and I am now reduced to drinking Mann's Brown and best bitter as the nearest substitute, only I cant often find Mann's Brown. I wish there was a map with the pubs that sell it. In most pubs if you ask for a brown split you got a bottle of Newcastle brown and 2 glasses. WAL 8-8-2005
WAL

I've been drinking manns brown ale since 1982 and I'll never give up that fantastic taste.
mike r r

can we buy Manns online?
Billy

i've just bought manns from tesco in warrington, cheshire. 99p a bottle 500ml. also available at tesco.com.18/12/05
gill willis

Where can you buy it?
Fred Carrington

Just bought (18/3/06) 6 bottles from Asda Wolverhampton 98p/500ml bottle. Beautiful drink ,used to drink it in my youth but then moved on ,now i'm back to it . Just baking a Manns walnut loaf using recipe no 4 hmmmm
Gordon

Now stocked by Sainsbury's at £1 per 500ml bottle
Jim Hacker

Mann's Brown Ale is now made by Thomas Hardy of Burtonwood, according to the WWW.refreshuk.com website. as at 16 April 06. "Widely available in supermarkets and Independent off-licences - Asda, Tesco, Co'op. Sainsbury, Booths at £1 a bottle." Go get it!
Jim Ebling

It's great to see this beer still selling, I thank my ancestors. I beleive that beer is one of the greatest inventions.
Andrew Mann

Jim -- I saw that on the Refresh website too but it hasn't been updated for ages. Burtonwood Brewery actually closed in 2003! I think the beer is now brewed at Youngs and am trying to get this confirmed.
Des de Moor

As an American and after spending three years in Suffolk, I fell in love with Manns. The only problem I have with Usher is they haven't any plans to export it. I dislike American Lagers, I haven't had a good British beer since 1983. Cheers to my British friends.
Mark

Mann's Brown Ale is now stocked by Sainsbury's. I bought a crate of it last week to see me throught the World Cup footy matches. Furthermore it was on offer at 75p a bottle!
Jim Ebling

tired of cider,tired of lager until my taste buds were excited by this brown ale and 74p at sainsburys this is a great change.
alan davidson

Wish I could find a stockist in Liverpool - can get it in the pub at £1.40/£1.50 a bottle which is a dear pint - tastes great but not sold in supermarket or off licence for some reason, Might try ringing the brewery.
David Mullen

I love Manns...they seem to have it everywhere here..crosby/waterloo Liverpool. You can get it in most supermarkets as well I believe, and probably a few offys as well. "Smooth Manns".
Isle of Mann

This is the best,and most underestimated beer in England.It is my No 1.I fell in love with it when down in somerset,As a northen bloke,I could not get mild anywhere so I tried a bottle.What a knock out. I had to buy two half bottles in those days,quite a dear do!.And you had to go into a pub to buy take outs,as no off license stocked it. Im glad things have changed.It is now produced in large pint bottles,that can be bought in major supermarkets.It is wonderful mixed half and half.Take a lifeless pint of Worthingtons,and mix it half and half,stupendous!.In the old days Manns was regularly mixed with inferior Milds,to raise the quality. It is a fantastic product.If you dropped the title 'brown Ale'.And called it 'Manns Dark Smoothie'.The students would go wild for it.It is the greatest pint in England
Martin Harrison

Used to drink draft Manns in Liverpool and S. Wales. Looked for it a few years ago. Doesn't seem to exist anymore. Anyone remember it?
Asia Davies

A very mild mild! I personally found the malt a little two dimensional, but apart from that this is a well balanced malty mild. If you are on sessions this could be your liver's saviour. 6.5/10.
Travis Webb

An excellent drink. Has a complexity belying its strength. One to drink for flavour, not for effect. I always try and keep one bottle in stock. Widely available in Supermarkets these days, for arounf £1.
Martin Grosberg

where in the south west can i buy manns brown
geoffrey taylor

Just bought a vitage beer glass from the 40-50's period (the can raf emblem) and would like to fill it with a vintage label. now searching for manns (jul 08)
derek

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