Dark Star Brewing Company
Sussex brewery known for its Hophead pale ale.
Dark Star Brewing Company was a brewery in Partridge Green, Sussex, England. It began in 1994, brewing in the cellar of the Evening Star pub in Brighton. The beer Dark Star itself was first made by Pitfield Brewery in north London, and its brewer, Rob Jones, later moved to the Evening Star. Production shifted to Ansty, West Sussex, in 2001, then to Partridge Green in 2010, where the brewery had a brew length of 45 barrels and an annual capacity of 20,000 barrels.
In February 2018, Fuller Smith & Turner, a London-based brewer, bought Dark Star, and James Cuthbertson remained as managing director. By August 2018, some of Dark Star’s flagship "Hophead" pale ale was being brewed at Fuller’s in London. In January 2019, Fuller’s announced plans to sell its entire drinks business, including Dark Star, to Japanese firm Asahi Breweries. In November 2022, Asahi said it would close the Partridge Green brewery, moving the entire Dark Star portfolio to its Meantime Brewery in Greenwich, London. In March 2024, Asahi announced the closure of Meantime Brewery, and production of Dark Star beers was moved to the Fuller’s Brewery in Chiswick.
Quick Facts
- Founded
- 1994
- Founder
- Rob Jones
- Headquarters
- Partridge Green
- Country
- England
- Industry
- Brewing
- Products
- Craft beer
- Parent
- Asahi Breweries
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Dark Star Brewery was founded in 1994, brewing in the cellar of the Evening Star public house in Brighton. The beer Dark Star was originally made by Pitfield Brewery in north London before its brewer, Rob Jones, moved to the Evening Star. In 2001, the company moved production to Ansty, West Sussex, before moving again to Partridge Green in 2010. The new brewery had a brew length of 45 barrels and an annual capacity of 20,000 barrels. In February 2018, Dark Star was acquired by London-based brewer Fuller Smith & Turner, with James Cuthbertson staying on as its managing director. In August 2018, the brewery confirmed that some of its flagship 'Hophead' pale ale was being produced by Fuller's in London. In January 2019, Fuller Smith & Turner announced plans to sell its entire drinks business, including The Dark Star Brewing Company, to Japanese firm Asahi Breweries. In November 2022, Asahi Breweries announced that it would close the Dark Star Brewery in Partridge Green, with the entire Dark Star portfolio moving to its Meantime Brewery in Greenwich, London. In March 2024, Asahi announced the closure of Meantime Brewery, and moved production of Dark Star beers to the Fuller's Brewery in Chiswick.
Reader's Guide
Dark Star Brewing Company's significance lies in its trajectory from a pub cellar operation to a regional brewery, and its eventual absorption into larger brewing groups. The brewery's flagship beer, Hophead pale ale, became a well-known brand, and its production was partially moved to Fuller's in London as early as August 2018. The acquisition by Fuller Smith & Turner in February 2018 was part of that company's effort to gain craft credibility, as noted in industry commentary. The subsequent sale to Asahi Breweries in January 2019 led to a series of relocations: first the closure of the Partridge Green site in November 2022, with production moving to Meantime Brewery in Greenwich, and then, after Meantime's closure in March 2024, the final move to Fuller's Brewery in Chiswick. Throughout these changes, James Cuthbertson remained managing director. The brewery's legacy is tied to its physical moves and corporate ownership shifts, which ultimately saw its beers produced at multiple London breweries.
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