Fuller's Brewery

We discovered our Fuller (and Smith!) roots steeped in over 300 years of making beer in Chiswick, England.

By Brittany Fuller

September 15^th, 2017

Discovering our Beer brewing Roots

One of my husband's favorite stories to tell is about his ancestry. Half of his Fuller family immigrated to the United States on the Mayflower and would go on to become early members of the Mormon Church. The other half, the half I'd probably jive with a bit more, stayed in England to make beer.

Fuller's Brewery was officially founded in 1845, though brewing dates back to 1816 in the Fuller family. In 1845 there were 3 founding partners: John Fuller, Henry Smith, and John Turner. That was where this story became extra special for us.

Jared told me countless times it was his 'life dream' to tour the Griffin Brewery and sip a London Pride where it all began. We were well aware and expected to see our shared last name plastered about pubs in England and of course the brewery itself. We were surprised to learn the Smith last name was part of this same brewing heritage. My maiden name is Smith.

So here we are: a Fuller and a Smith from across the pond ready to explore a craft our namesakes toiled for more than 300 years.

the Brewery tour

We explored every aspect of brewing beer at the Griffin Brewery. Colin our tour guide was delightful. He was so excited to learn we were a married Fuller and Smith that he took a picture of our passports!

tasting barley

We tasted several ingredients in beer, like barley. It tastes much better in beer.

Beer tasting in the hock cellar

The tasting was one of my favorite parts of the tour. Colin was excellent behind the bar. He explained the different beers on tap and helped us navigate the tasting like pros.

Jared and Josh had to take a call (always hustlin!) during the last bit of the tasting and tasked me with trying ALL the beer. Ok, I might have tasked myself. I worked my way through about 8 different samples, jotting down my notes with a pencil in a tasting booklet.

Wrapping up the tasting at the tour's end right next to the gift shop was a genius capitalist move by these Fullers. Sans inhibitions and with my husband a bit preoccupied, on my out I left with 5 bags full of reserve ales, pub signs, and t-shirts for the Fuller and Smith families back home.