Born in County Cork in 1826, Robert Cain first arrived in Liverpool at the age of eighteen. From his modest pay as a merchant seaman he managed to accumulate sufficient funds to buy a small pub in Limekiln Lane, brewing his own ales and rapidly acquiring a reputation for his brewing skills.

Nineteenth century Liverpool was a teeming seaport and one of the most prosperous trading cities in the world. It boasted many fine alehouses and local breweries abounded. The young Robert Cain quickly became known throughout the city for the exceptional quality of his traditional beer and by 1858 demand for his ales was such that he acquired the site of a former brewhouse in Stanhope Street.

Robert Cain insisted that nothing should come between his customers and their enjoyment of his ales. To this end he became a patron of fine architecture in Liverpool, building some 200 public houses to serve his ales in comfortable surroundings. Many were beautifully designed in the classic Victorian manner, with ornate interiors and sumptuous furnishings. The Vines and the Philharmonic, with its fabulous Art Nouveau wrought-iron gates and tiled interior, are known throughout the world for their architectural splendor.

The landmark redbrick brewhouse where Cains Ales are still brewed to this day was always a harmonious marriage between the traditional skills of the brewer and the leading edge of the latest technology. With its richly detailed terracotta tile work, it stands as a fine example of Victorian architecture. Re-opened as the Robert Cain Brewery in 1991, the brewery today is still dedicated to producing award-winning ales in the tradition of those originally brewed by Robert Cain himself.

As a legendary brew master, Robert Cain used only the finest malt, hops and yeast to brew exceptional beers which he advertised as 'Superior Ales and Stouts'. The products are hugely popular throughout Merseyside and are becoming more established across the country and in export markets worldwide.