William McEwan & Co. Ltd Ceramic Bell

William McEwan & Co. Ltd ceramic bell dating from the 1900s.

Foundation of the Fountain Brewery

William McEwan founded the Fountain Brewery in Fountainbridge, Edinburgh, in 1856.
After establishing a sizeable market share in the industrial regions of the Scottish lowlands, from the early 1860s McEwan began building his successful colonial export trade. His main beer, McEwan's India Pale Ale became the foundation for much of the Company's reputation both at home and abroad.
In 1865 the Company's 'Hand Supporting a Globe' logo was introduced and became its official trade mark in 1880.
By the 1870s McEwan's beers were widely available in England, and the Company employed 170 men and boys.
By 1880 the Fountain Brewery site covered 12 acres.
In 1886, as he was about to enter Parliament, William McEwan employed his nephew, William Younger, as the Company's Managing Director.

William McEwan & Co. Ltd Registration

When the Company was registered as William McEwan & Co. Ltd in 1889, the Fountain Brewery was the largest in Britain owned by a single individual.
By the turn of the twentieth century McEwan's held a significant market share in Scotland, a 90% share of the Tyneside market, and was exporting to Scottish expatriates across the British Empire.
In 1907 the firm acquired the trade and goodwill of Alexander Melvin & Co. when it closed.
By 1914 McEwan's bottled beers were distributed across Britain.

Scottish Brewers Ltd

McEwan's finances had diminished as a result of the Great Depression in 1929 and 1930 which resulted in a defensive merger with its rival William Younger & Co. Ltd in 1931, to form Scottish Brewers Ltd.
Only certain financial and technological resources were amalgamated and both companies continued to brew and market their own ales separately.
McEwan's was the dominant exporter of the two Companies and, in 1931, it was responsible for the lead role in a newly formed business, McEwan-Younger Ltd, which served the overseas market.
Brewing for McEwan-Younger Ltd was, however, operated at Younger's Abbey Brewery.
During the 1930s McEwan's became the pioneer of keg beer in Scotland.
In 1935 McEwans' 'Cavalier' trade mark was introduced to the market.
As a result of the falling export trade after the Second World War, the Abbey Brewery was closed and converted into offices.

McEwan's Modernisation Programme

After a costly five year investment programme for expansion and modernisation between 1958 and 1963, the Company doubled its output.
Scottish Brewers Ltd merged with Newcastle Breweries Ltd to form Scottish & Newcastle Breweries Ltd in 1960.
McEwan's Export became one of three core brands, the others being Newcastle Brown Ale and Younger's Tartan Special.
McEwan's export beers were re-branded MacEwans for easier pronunciation.
In 1973 the Fountain Brewery was moved and rebuilt a short distance from the original site. It pioneered the use of computer control for the entire brewing process.
By 1975 McEwan's Export had become the best selling canned beer in Britain.

Closure of the Fountain Brewery

In 2004 the McEwan's range of ales was brewed at the Caledonian Brewery and the Fountain Brewery was closed in 2005.
The last cask conditioned ale to be brewed was McEwan's 80/- which stopped in 2006.
Brewing and canning of McEwan's Export was transferred to John Smith's brewery in Tadcaster.
The McEwan's brands were acquired by Heineken UK Ltd when it bought Scottish & Newcastle Breweries Ltd in 2008.
In 2011 the independent brewer Wells & Young's Ltd, acquired the McEwan's portfolio.
In 2017 Marstons PLC purchased Wells & Young's Ltd and as a result it inherited the McEwan's brand.
The Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company currently own the brand.

The manufacturer's mark states - Fieldings Stoke-on-Trent