Fentimans

Fentimans is a botanical brewery based in Hexham, Northumberland, UK.

History

Thomas Fentiman, an iron puddler from West Yorkshire, acquired a recipe for botanically brewed ginger beer in 1905 when a fellow tradesman approached Fentiman for a loan but never repaid it. The firm became a door-to-door ginger beer sales company. During the mid-1960s the company ran into trouble, as supermarkets were taking over the door-to-door trade, and closed down. In 1988, Eldon Robson, great-grandson of Fentiman, started the business again, relaunching the brand.

The Pennsylvania-based Lion Brewery, Inc. brew and distribute Fentimans products in the United States. During 2009 there will be an investment of £190,000, for such things as converting its basement into a laboratory, for in-house product development.

The original building of Fentimans is a listed building in Gateshead, Tyne & Wear. The Fentimans logo, which is built into the building, is based on Fearless, Thomas Fentiman's prize German Shepherd dog, twice winner of the Crufts Obedience Test.