General Features

The Bull Lane Brewing Company was set up two years ago in the cellar of the Clarendon pub in the East End of Sunderland.

But it's the more recent events in the city that are making the vats in the the Bull Lane Brewery full at all times - the Sunderland AFC's good fortunes.

A play, or two, on words

BBC Radio Newcastle's Sunderland reporter Russell Ward went down the stairs of the Clarendon to speak to brewer John Taylor.

"A friend of mine, Graham Ford, who has the Beamish Mary Inn is a Sunderland fan, possibly their greatest fan, asked me to brew a beer bearing in mind Sunderland football club and we came up with a beer, Sauce Of The Niall."

"So it's a play on two words, isn't it?" Russell asks "Sauce as in tomato sauce, ketchup, but also the sauce of the Nile, Nile/Niall Quinn?"

Sauce Of The Niall is a 4.5 per cent version of Irish Stout, again an homage to Mr Quinn's Irish roots and according to John it's well received.

"It's selling very well. Unfortunately we haven't got the facilities to brew as much as the demand would allow us."

What's the future like?

"It looks like Sunderland will get promoted now, what do you anticipate as far as sales of pints of this?" Russell asks John.

"It's a nice balanced beer, so hopefully it will be the source (!) of some celebration," John says with a smile as he pours a pint for Russell to sample.

To listen to Russell's interview with John in full, click on the link below.