This is the first in a minor new obsession of mine to achive and remember beers that are no longer with us.  Some lasted a long time then fell from popularity and some were brief flashes of inspiration but short too lived.  My first post looks at The Durhams Brewery hall of heritage fame.  Some fantastic names and award winners here from session beers to commemorative ales.

Gone but not forgotten (well some are)

Moxy's Ale 3.2% abv Our first beer was named after the designer of our TBI plant.

Palatine 3.8% abv
We launched the brewery with two beers; Celtic and Palatine.

Sanctuary SX 6% abv
This was a test brew for Sanctuary. Winter 1994.
Frog Double Hop 3.8% abv This was a mistake which actually proved to be quite popular. On the test brew for the first Magus I accidentally put twice the correct amount of hops into the boil. The name was provided by Neville at the Frog and Ferret in Spennymoor who sold quite a lot of it. December 1994.

Valentines Porter 4.9% abv
For Valentine's day 1995.

Durham Victory 4.8% abv
This was brewed to commemorate VE day 1995.

Old Elvet 3.6% abv
The name of a street in Durham City. This was my first attempt at a mild. Spring 1996.
Ginger Vice 4.0% abv This was an authentic wheat beer with fresh ginger summer 1996.

Autumn Spice 4.0% abv
Most people did not like the cloudiness of Ginger Vice so I toned down the ginger and used our standard yeast for a clear beer. Autumn 1996.

Old Hundred 4.4% abv
Our 100th gyle, hence the name. First brewed 23rd January 1996.

Tournament 4.5% abv
This beer was brewed for the Beauty of Hops competition 1997 and came 2nd in the target class.

Christmas Gold 5.0% abv
A successful Christmas 1996 beer which formed the basis for the new Palatine.

Palatine 4.0% abv
The name was too good to waste so it was used again on a completely different recipe from the first one. January 1997.

White Magic 6.0% abv
Only one brew was ever made. Winter 1997.

Sunburst 3.6% abv
A variation on Sunstroke. May 1997.
White Diamond 4.5% abv

Spring 1998.
Auld Aquaintance 4.5% abv A beer for new year 1998.

Durham Solstice 4.2% abv

Christmas 1998. Originally Winter Solstice

Melchior's Gold 4.5% abv Our Christmas beer for 1999. A rich IPA character with aromatic American hops.

Pagan 4.8% This was our strong bitter. It has now been replaced by Golden Chalice.

Black Friar 4.5% abv Dark and rich but not heavy enough to be a stout.

Black Velvet 4.2% abv Rich black beer that was too heavy for its abv. Since reinstated with a different recipe.

White Silver 4.0% abv Brewed for the 25th anniversary of Wakefield CAMRA.

Newcastle Gold 3.9% abv Made for the Newcastle CAMRA beer festival 2000

Canny Lad 4.5% abv A long standing beer that has been superseded by more adventurous creations

Celtic Gold 4.3% abv The same recipe as Millennium City but with a reduction in abv to make an easier supping beer.

NeueSchloss 4.6% abv  A very distinct, pale, continental style beer. Voted best beer at the Newcastle beer festival 2000.

Golden Chalice 4.5% abv Originally created for a beer festival at "The Beamish Mary" (CAMRA national pub of the year 1995) in which the challenge was to make a beer that would have been available in 1900. This is an interpretation of the pale ale/bitter style. It was voted best beer at the festival.

MorningSong 2.5% abv A good idea that few wanted. Despite its 4.0% type qualities it was deemed too weak.

Black Bishop 5.0% A very pleasant full rounded stout. Discontinued because of a lack of interest in cask stouts.

WhiteMagic 7.0% An authentic IPA. We concluded that the market does not want history for it's own sake.

White Angel 4.1% abv The Christmas beer 2001. A blend of White Gold and White Velvet. The best qualities of both beers combine in a delicious well balanced session beer.

Scimitar 4.1% abv A lager with a clean pallet and the spice and bitterness of an ale

Green Goddess 3.8% abv .Created for the "Beauty of Hops"curry beer competition, this beer will slake the thirst of the most dedicated curry eater. English Goldings hops give a traditional spicey bitter flavour.

Bonny Lass 3.9% abv Ruby coloured but with the flavour of a "White" beer. The light fruity flavour is deceptive. Compare to a light red wine.

Black Abbot 5.3% abv This is a dark ruby coloured dunkel beer. A form of lager beer, the flavour is a cross between brown ale and mild with smooth toffee notes.

Frostbite 3.6% abv This wasthe winter counterpart to Sunstroke. Despite its low abv there is a depth of malt and hop character which makes this ale seem stronger than it really is.

Celtic 4.2% abv Our first beer. This is a traditional golden beer. All-English ingredients provide a flavour that speaks of early 20th century. We sometimes spell it with a "K" to get the pronunciation right. It is connected with the ancient culture that produced the Christianity of Northumbria, not with football.

Cathedral Gold 4.5% abv A luscious blend of Magnificat and Morningsong.