Beer lovers are being asked to raise a glass and join in a nationwide communal toast of the UK’s favourite tipple to celebrate the first Beer Day Britain.
The national ‘cheers to beer’ is taking place at 12.15pm on Monday, June 15, chosen as it was the date in 1215 that the Magna Carta was sealed, the historic document which established the rule of law and also defined the traditional pint of ale thus: “There shall be but one Measure throughout the Realm”.
Beer Day Britain’s organisers are planning to start a trend on Twitter with the hashtag #CheersBDB and photos of people raising their beer glass.
Britain’s oldest brewer Shepherd Neame will be joining in the celebrations, with licensees in its pubs ringing their Last Orders bells at 12.15pm and encouraging customers to raise a glass to Beer Day Britain.
The brewery has been making beer at its historic site in the market town of Faversham, Kent, for more than 400 years. Faversham has a special connection to the Magna Carta as its town council recently discovered that a copy in its archives was an original, dating back to 1300 and worth up to £20m.
Shepherd Neame’s Master Brewers have therefore created a commemorative beer for the occasion. A traditional strong English ale, 1215 (8% abv) is infused with medieval ale ingredients from the hedgerow such as Mugwort, Yarrow, Woodruff and Fennel, which were used before hops became proliferant.
It is presented in a traditional amber 750ml bottle, embossed with the Shepherd Neame crook. Only 1,215 bottle-conditioned beers have been released, each encased within a presentation box bearing the signature approval of brewery president Robert Neame. It is exclusively available from the brewery shop and online at www.shepherdneame.co.uk/shop.
Shepherd Neame chief executive Jonathan Neame said: “We are delighted to support the first Beer Day Britain. We feel it is important to make people proud of British beer and pubs, and help raise the profile of beer as Britain’s national drink.”
For more information visit www.beerdaybritain.co.uk, or follow @BeerDayBritain on Twitter.
