Say cheers to the beers on Beer Day Britain

09-Jun-2023 - Last updated on 09-Jun-2023 at 09:42 GMT

Deliberate date: Jane Peyton chose the date of 15 June for Beer Day Britain because of beer's relevance in the Magna Carta

Beer drinkers across Great Britain are being encouraged to celebrate Beer Day Britain next week.

Beer Day Britain, the UK’s annual national beer day, is a chance for operators to increase footfall at their sites and customers to come together on Thursday 15 June to celebrate Britain’s national drink – ideally in the pub.

The focus of the day is the National Cheers To Beer (#cheerstobeer) toast at 7pm.

Great atmosphere

Jane Peyton, beer sommelier and instigator of Beer Day Britain, said: “Every day is beer day for beer lovers but 15 June is extra special and gives us a chance to celebrate the national drink. And it tastes so much better when consumed with friends in a pub with a great atmosphere.

“15 June is extra special because that is also the date Magna Carta was sealed in 2015. Clause 35 of the charter mentions ale. It states, ‘Let there be throughout our kingdom a single measure for wine and a single measure for ale and a single measure for corn… ’ and that is why I chose 15 June to celebrate Beer Day Britain.

“The National Cheers To Beer at 7pm is a simple and effective way of marking Beer Day Britain. It entails raising a glass and saying ‘Cheers To Beer’ then posting a message on social message with the hashtag #CheersToBeer. So many people participate that it almost breaks social media.”

Award-winning instigator

Peyton is an award-winning beer sommelier, drinks educator, writer, broadcaster, pub expert and public speaker. She is the founder of the School of Booze – a drinks education consultancy and corporate events production company.

She was the UK’s first accredited pommelier (cider sommelier) and Britain’s first Beer Sommelier of the Year. For her beer work she was awarded the title Outstanding Individual Achievement in Beer from the Beer & Cider Marketing Awards and a Lifetime Achievement Award from Britain’s All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group.

Her written work comprises nine non-fiction books including The Philosophy of Beer and Drink: A Tippler’s Miscellany.

The Beer Day Britain website describes traditional British beer styles as India pale ale (IPA), pale ale, porter, stout, Imperial Russian stout, mild, bitter, barley wine, brown ale and Scotch ale.

If you have any products being launched to celebrate Beer Day Britain, email tnel.yyblq@jeoz.pbz for potential inclusion on The MA website and daily newsletter.