Would jube believe all these royal ales?
By: JimOldfield
May 22nd, 2012
Summer ales means monarch ales this year – as Britain’s brewers turn out in force with celebratory pints to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
In arguably first place for the wackiest name, comes Hertfordshire’s Tring Brewery with its four-malt special, Would Jubileve It.
The 4 per cent, UK-hopped amber ale is described as having subtle bitterness and a floral, herbal flavour and is available for your street parties in nine, 18, 36 and 72 pint containers from the brewery shop. For contact details see the links below.
Meanwhile, in the West Country, Yeovil Ales has weighed in with Crown Imperial, which will be distributed on draught in local pubs. Brewed with locally-sourced Maris Otter barley, the pale ale is described as having “gorgeous grapefruit and orange aromas” imparted by hop flowers from UK and North American hops.
Yeovil went one better than their rivals – by sending the Queen a hamper containing the ale, together with another special, Lynx Wildcat, brewed to mark the 40th anniversary of the Lynx Helicopter.
Over in Kent, comes Jubilation Ale from the Westerham Brewery – which is already proving so successful that it has gone from concept to being in one of the company’s best-selling half-dozen ales in a matter of weeks!
Swindon family brewers Arkell’s have come up with Queen’s Tipple, so named because of the Tipple malt – used in conjunction with Maris Otter – by head brewer Alex Arkell, to create a 4.5 per cent light Pale Ale with a floral, hoppy finish. The ale is available from today (May 21) in the company’s pub outlets and to order direct from the brewery.
Devizes-based Wadworth have really pushed the boat out for the Jubilee – with a special ale AND a specially-rejigged annual ale festival to mark the event! The festival – Wadworth’s fifth such event – will take place in a marquee behind the brewery, from noon-9pm on June 2.
It comes complete with a one-off cask of Queen’s Jubilee Ale for guests… specially rustled up after a limited edition of 1,200 bottles of the beer rapidly sold out! Also on offer will be new patriotic pint, Red White and Brew – with its Union Jack-inspired pump clip – alongside 13 more beers and a selection of real ciders.
Even the Co-op has gotten in on the action – launching a pair of limited edition beers brewed in Gloucestershire, by the Forest of Dean’s Freeminer Brewery. Jubilation is described as a pale bright beer, made with malt from Warminster and Bramling Cross hops from Worcester, while Salutation is a classic British bitter, with Goldings and Fuggles added.
