Ruddles County's Slogans & Taglines

Ruddles County Ale traces its origins to 1858, when Richard Baker founded the Langham Brewery in Rutland, England. In 1911, brewing manager George Ruddle acquired the operation for £19,500, establishing the Ruddles name. In 1950, County was reintroduced as a strong bitter, brewed with Langham water similar to Burton's and late-hopped with whole Goldings to balance its sweetness. The brand's iconic horseshoe motif derives from Rutland's 500-year tradition of royalty presenting horseshoes to the lord of the manor. In 1978, Ruddles supplied British Airways with canned County for transatlantic flights. After passing through Grand Metropolitan (1986), Courage, Grolsch, and Morland, the Langham brewery closed in 1998 and was demolished in 1999. Today, Ruddles County is produced by Greene King in Bury St Edmunds.

The brand's core products are English pale ales and bitters, led by Ruddles County—a 4.7% ABV ale with distinctive dark toffee and caramel flavours, crisp bitterness, and rare Bramling Cross hops. Its portfolio also includes Ruddles Best and seasonal specials.

From its earliest positioning, Ruddles County built its identity around the slogans "Proper Country Ale" and "Serious Country Ale," reflecting a journey from a small Rutland village brewery to a nationally recognised symbol of traditional English brewing craftsmanship.