Bulldog

Bulldog was originally the general brand brewed by H & G Simonds produced for Robert Porter who not only sold Bull Dog Pale Ale but also other brands such as Bull Dog Sparkling Light Beer and even a Bull Dog Guinness

Bulldog Belgium Ale was brewed for John Martin a Belgium Brewer who had a beer import business in Antwerp. He left Belgium in 1940 after the Germans invaded Belgium and worked
for Robert Porter export bottlers.

When he returned to Belgium after the war, he decided to import a strong pale ale from England, choosing Simonds of Reading with whom he had had connections during the war.

Head brewer Eric Downes created the Bulldog beer. It was very pale in colour, using lightly cured malt and Styrian hops.
The exports started in 1949 and won two gold medals at the Brewers Exhibition in 1950.

The beer was also sold in England as Simonds Bulldog (the trademark of Porters, who at first bottled the export beer). It started at around 7%, but was later reduced to 6.3% and
then to 5% with Martins starting to brew the beer in Belgium. (with thanks to Brian Glover)

The first record of Bull Dog Pale Ale in the Simonds Brewing Archive is listed in 1949