In 1828, retired cotton manufacturer, John Lees started making beer. This was an age when the working man would drink 12 pints a day, the women a little less and even the kids got in on the act. This wasn’t because water was considered a waste-of-throat time, but you might catch something like cholera. At the same time Manchester was becoming the work shop of the world. When demand meets quality at the right price you get success.