Cains beer back on the bar as iconic Liverpool brew is revived
Liverpool’s famous Cains brand will make a return to pubs this summer with a resumption of brewing planned for the city brewery in a move that will create 40 jobs.
A new facility will open in the Cains Brewery Village, in Stanhope Street, part of the Baltic Triangle area, which was the original brewery where Robert Cain first launched his iconic brew in 1858.
The Cains brand was revived when brothers Sudarghara and Ajmail Dusanj bought the business in 2002. They introduced a popular range of around 10 different brews, but the venture collapsed into administration in the financial crash of 2008.
The Dusanj brothers bought back the red brick brewery and eight of the original pubs, but brewing came to a halt in 2013 and, despite plans to relaunch as a microbrewery, the brand has lain dormant, until now.
In 2018 local entrepreneur Andrew Mikhail acquired the Cains name.
Cains Brewery Village
His Mikhail Hotels & Leisure Group includes a range of bars and hotels throughout the region, such as Irish bar Punch Tarmey’s, the ArCains gaming arcade, The Bold Hotel in Southport, Liverpool pub Doctor Duncan’s, and The Grand, on Lord Street, Southport, which is currently being renovated ahead of a summer opening involving four high-end bars, a Brasserie, and a wedding function suite.
Mikhail is now set to relaunch the Cains beer brand. He said: “Cains beer is synonymous with Liverpool, I love the Cains brand.
“The beer they call ‘Liverpool in a pint’ has been missed by many since it disappeared from bars almost 10 years ago. I feel incredibly proud to be bringing this iconic brew back to life and I’m sure that there are many real ale fans looking forward to enjoying that first pint of Cains.”
He added: “Cains is a resilient brand, just like Liverpool and we’re really excited to be bringing Cains Brewery back to life, albeit with a new direction that will bring national attention to Liverpool for all the right reasons.”
The new venue, expected to create 40 jobs, will be spread across three floors in the original and oldest building within Cains Brewery where brewing originally started more than 160 years ago.
Andrew Mikhail and wife Vicky
Andrew Hayes, Cains’ general manager and head brewer, said: “Watching the tanks being delivered this week makes it all so real. I, like so many others, can’t wait for the first taste of this famous Liverpool brew.
“The city has been missing a signature beer since the closure of Cains and I’m very excited to bring it back.”
He said the new range will include old favourites, such as the top selling Raisin Beer: “The Raisin Beer was one of the best loved beers Cains ever produced – and will be one of the first beers to come out of the brewery when it returns this year. We are excited to bring the original recipe back to life for all to enjoy.”
Brewery tours are set to be available once the venue opens its door this spring.
