CASK ALE WEEK 2025
Cask Ale Week, 18th – 28th September, is the perfect time to raise a pint to one of Britain’s greatest brewing traditions and at JW Lees, it’s something close to our heart. For nearly 200 years, we’ve been brewing beers that bring people together, and cask ale has always been at the centre of what we do.
What is cask beer?
Cask beer, often referred to as ‘real ale,’ is beer that’s brewed, matured, and served in the traditional way. It goes into a secondary fermentation in the cask itself in the very pub that you drink it in, giving it natural carbonation and fresh, full-flavoured character. Unlike kegged or bottled beer, cask ale is live. It is carefully looked after by skilled team members, and hand-pulled to perfection at the bar. It’s a unique and iconic brewing tradition, and we’re proud to be part of keeping it alive.
Why does cask beer matter to JW Lees?
Cask isn’t just beer to us; it’s part of who we are. Our legacy began in 1828 where our founder John Lees, a retired mill owner, bought a plot of land in Middleton Junction in the Northwest of Manchester and built Greengate Brewery. John Lees was a man with restless and inventive spirit, a spirit that still runs deep today. We’ve brewed beers created to be enjoyed in pubs, hand-pulled, fresh and shared amongst friends and family. Every pint of JW Lees cask ale champions quality and celebrates our community spirit.
Our core cask beers
We’ve carefully crafted brews and perfected recipes for JW Lees Bitter and MPA (Manchester Pale Ale,) which are two cornerstones of our cask range.
JW Lees Bitter, once known as ‘John Willies’ is our flagship cask beer and been part of our bar for generations; 7 generations to be exact! It is a well-balanced, malty ale with a smooth finish and epitomises everything we love about cask ale.
MPA, born in 2013 is our modern take on American Pale Ale, the Manc way. Golden, hoppy and refreshing and brewed for today’s modern drinkers whilst still sticking to our cask roots.
We are proud to brew two of Manchester’s most renowned beers that showcase both timeless tradition alongside innovation.
The Grip Glass
Of course, no pint of JW Lees cask is poured into anything other than our iconic grip glass, known to everyone in Manchester. It is with its four grooves for your fingers and one for your thumb, enables you to get a firmer grasp on your pint. Our grip glass is more than just a glass; it is a symbol of our dedication to cask. So, take a grip, fill with JW Lees beer, raise it confidently to the good John Lees, then enjoy.
Raise as pint with us
This Cask Ale Week, whether you’re enjoying a pint of Bitter in your local, sharing an MPA with friends, or simply raising our grip glass to tradition, you’re helping to keep cask ale alive. And if you’ve never tried cask before, now is the perfect time to ask for a sample and give it a go, there’s nothing to lose!
Here’s to cask. Here’s to heritage. Here’s to JW Lees.
