Hartleys XB is a historic British bitter ale originally created in 1949 by head brewer Eric Simpson at the Hartleys Brewery in Ulverston, Cumbria. Famed for its rich body, smooth bitter profile, and subtle malt tang, it became a traditional staple of Lakeland pub culture. [1, 2, 3]

The beer's roots are tied to the Old Brewery on Brewery Street in Ulverston, a site where commercial brewing dates back to 1755. The Hartley family took over the operation in 1896, eventually incorporating as Hartleys (Ulverston) Limited in 1919. In the post-WWII era, Eric Simpson formulated the recipe for XB, which quickly became the brewery's flagship real ale, brewed utilizing local gravity-fed systems and classic English hops. [1, 2, 3, 4]

In July 1982, the regional family brewer Frederic Robinson Ltd (Robinsons Brewery) of Stockport acquired Hartleys, absorbing its estate of 56 public houses. Robinsons initially continued operations in Cumbria, but officially ceased brewing at the historic Ulverston site on October 21, 1991. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Following the closure, production of the Hartley's brands—including XB—was permanently transferred down to Robinsons' Unicorn Brewery in Stockport. [1, 2]

Despite the physical relocation of the brand, Robinsons has continued to brew the beer using the original 1949 Hartley's recipe, frequently marketing it as Hartleys Cumbrian XB to honor its geographic heritage. [1, 2]

An interesting piece of industrial legacy survived the move: when the Ulverston plant was dismantled, the old Hartley's traditional brewing equipment was purchased and put back to work by the Black Sheep Brewery in Masham, North Yorkshire, where it remains in use. Meanwhile, the original Ulverston brewery site was partially demolished in 1994 and subsequently redeveloped into residential housing, marked by a commemorative heritage plaque. [1, 2, 3, 4]