Occupying an imposing complex which takes up much of Fortune Square in southern Jalkin, Ayresons is another of the Cities' landmark industries - whose produce and works are seen as intrinsic to the culture. Ayresons more than anyone makes great play of this status, frequently sponsoring local athletics contests and the like, and advertising its beer with posters claiming it to be "The Taste of the Cities" and so on. It has also taken advantage of its proximity to the southern gate and drapes great banners across its gates designed to catch the attention of visitors. Ayresons has also long insinuated itself with local politics; its flagship brew, clarwater, was once watered down further on Council request, in return for various nebulous favours. Ironically, Ayresons was first founded in the late 1000's in eastern Elsey. It spent much of its early existence drifting about the country trying to find the kindest local licensing authorities, before arriving in Forgar in 1179. It benefited from the economic boom of the 1200's as much as anywhere, its soaring profits allowing it to first move into its Jalkin works in 1214 and then gradually establish other breweries in Dorlaf. By 1334 a mini empire has been established, with breweries in Jolton, Chorley, Braeric, Wiscan, Balbo and Ministone; and though the Jalkin works still sees some brewing, much of it is devoted to administration offices.
Recent years, though, have been less kind, with sales plunging, especially outside the Cities, and many of the regional breweries facing closure. Ayresons has the same trouble as other 'landmark industries'; it has concentrated on producing cheap basics for so long that its name has become a byword for crap. Even the people who can't afford better have begun switching to competitors, whose produce might be no better but is less stigmatised. And the truth is that neither clarwater nor Ayresons' slightly more upmarket brew - Kingmaker, Brulos Best - are very strong or taste like much. A recent attempt to launch a more prestigious beer, Springtime, was a resounding disaster, and there have been doubts raised about some of its facilities, modern in the 1200's but not updated much since. The authorities are keen to see Ayresons prosper, partly because it is not only one of Jalkin's biggest employers but one of the most progressive, leading the way in offering pensions and worker incentives and recognising trade unions. But its occupation has kept it on the fringes of respectability, and Elak Griegson merely had to hint at offering it tax breaks to draw howls of outrage from Jalkin's conservatives.
Ayresons has no single owner, the original Ayreson family having vanished long ago, and are controlled by a consortium whose squabbles have augmented its stagnation. The current manager is Kindos Dertzan, a Notrufan headhunted from rivals in 1333. He replaced , who fell victim to one of the messier sackings of recent times. , promptly appointed to , continues to rail at Ayresons from her position as Vice President of the Victualling Society.