Theakston, Robinsons and Joseph Holt launch Jubilee beers

Theakston, located in Masham, is releasing Royal Salute, which is a 5% ABV pale ale. The brew was originally brewed for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 and is now being relaunched. It uses pale and crystal barley, Target, Challenger and Progress bitter hops, and is finished with Sovereign hops for what is said to be a fruity, clean flavour.

Royal Salute will be available in pubs across the country from 1 June until 20 June.

In addition, Theakston will be repurposing 70 wooden cask ends and branding them to act as a permanent souvenir of the Jubilee, to be given as gifts to the pubs close to Masham that have already ordered the ale in one of the 70 oak casks specially made to mark each year of her reign.

Royal tradition

Theakston has a tradition of brewing limited-edition ales for Royal occasions, including ‘Celebration Ale’ to mark the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977 and ‘Prince of Ales’ in 1981 to mark the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana.

Joint managing director Simon Theakston said: “With such a momentous occasion upon us, we wanted to salute Her Majesty the Queen on her Platinum Jubilee, and what better way to do that than to bring back our most popular seasonal ale ever, which hasn’t been brewed since her Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

“We will be raising a glass of Royal Salute and encouraging others to do the same to the Queen to celebrate her reaching this fantastic milestone.”

Meanwhile, family-run Robinsons Brewery of Stockport – a finalist in the Best Brewing Pub Company category in The Publican Awards 2022 – is celebrating the occasion by launching a limited-edition pale ale called Queen’s Tipple.

Momentous occasion

It is a 4.2% ABV ‘regal’ beer with a tropical fruit aroma from Citra centennial hops, light in colour and has a distinctly hoppy flavour.

Robinsons director of marketing David Bremner said: “We’re extremely excited to launch the Queen’s Tipple beer in celebration of such a momentous and royal occasion. We are delighted with the results and hope all our customers enjoy this perfect summer tipple to mark such a historic occasion.

“The beer is also being featured at the Museum of Brands, which is putting on a display celebrating the Platinum Jubilee and displaying more than 200 years of royal souvenirs and packaging.”

The Queen’s Tipple will be available in Robinsons’ pubs in cask, and in bottle in selected retail outlets.

Manchester-based brewer and pub operator Joseph Holt is also releasing a specially brewed draught Jubilee cask beer. The “gloriously refreshing pale cask ale, bursting with tropical fruit notes and a clean bitter finish”, will be available for a limited time at all 127 Joseph Holt pubs.

Joseph Holt has also released a new canned beverage titled Platinum Lager, which uses Antipodean hops that are said to produce “a riot of summery fruit flavours thanks to refreshingly light notes of peach and passionfruit”.

Modern twist

Oxfordshire beer producer and pub operator Hook Norton Brewery is also joining the party with its Jubilee Ale release.

The 5.2% ABV reflects 1952, which was the year of the Queen’s accession to the Throne. The brewer said the ale is a dark ruby red beer that combines a robust pairing of traditional all English hops, delicate and smooth Goldings and floral Fuggles with two new hop varieties. 

Managing director James Clarke said: “The recipe is based on two historic beers. Old Hooky, first brewed to celebrate Her Majesty’s Silver Jubilee in 1977; and Celebration Ale, brewed in 1999 to celebrate the Brewery’s 150th Anniversary. Taking the best of these two beers, and adding a modern twist of two new experimental hop varieties, this beer celebrates the values of tradition, respect, and innovation. One to savour.”

Jubilee Ale will be available on cask at the brewery bar and in Hook Norton pubs. It can also be purchased in 500ml bottles from the brewery shop and online.

Are you making any cask beers in celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee? If so, send the details to tnel.yyblq@jeoz.pbz​ or rebecca.weller@wrbm.com​ for potential publication next week.​