Stoke-on-Trent brewery and City Council brew beer to celebrate centenary

Stoke-on-Trent brewery and City Council brew beer to celebrate centenary

A brewery that has been making beer in Stoke-on-Trent for 40 years is brewing a special ale to celebrate the city’s 100th anniversary.

Titanic Brewery in Burlsem has teamed up with the city council to produce a limited edition of ‘Century Anniversary Ale’.

The 4.7% ABV amber ale will be sold in bottles, cans and be available on cask in pubs across Staffordshire.

Designers have incorporated The Potteries’ famous kilns into the ale’s labels and pump clips.

A percentage from each sale of ‘Century Anniversary Ale’ will be donated to the Titanic Brewery Foundation which supports local charities.

The Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, Councillor Lyn Sharpe, visited Titanic Brewery on 30 April to help bring this beer to life, alongside Titanic’s head brewer Will Bott.

The initial brewing process, which takes about a day to complete, will involve bringing together the four key ingredients of beer – water, hops, malted barley and yeast. Patience will then required whilst the yeast gets to work, fermenting the liquid over a number of days.

Cllr Sharpe said: “I know first-hand about Titanic Brewery’s historic role in this city as I worked there as a tour guide for a number of years until 2024.

“Visitors loved learning about what happens to some simple ingredients in a brewery and how they’re turned into a beautiful pint of beer for you to enjoy in your local pub. Stoke-on-Trent's brewing history has been a proud part of our 100 years. The designs on the pump clips mean that pubgoers across the region will learn about our centenary and be able to raise a glass to this historic year.”

David Glenwright from Titanic Brewing said: “We are genuinely honoured to be working with the city council to produce this commemorative ale, celebrating both the City’s centenary, and our own 40th anniversary. When Titanic Brewery was established in 1985, founder John Pazio had a simple goal, to create great beer to bring together wonderful local communities.

“It is this same goal that drives us to this day, and whilst our beers may be enjoyed by drinkers around the world, we make sure they know their pint was proudly shipped to them from The Potteries.

“Stoke-on-Trent’s 100th Anniversary is a momentous occasion, and we’re excited to raise a glass or two of Century Anniversary Ale and say ‘Cheers!’ to 100 years of this incredible city and its people.”

Debbie Whittingham, Regional Manager and Employee Director at JD Wetherspoons, said: “James Mancell, pub manager at The Reginald Mitchell, and I were thrilled and delighted to have been invited along to the ‘mashing’ at Titanic Brewery of this celebratory brew.

“I can tell you that the smell in that mash room was just unbelievably gorgeous. It was really great to be reminded of just how genuine real ale is, being brewed in the same way for centuries. The art of brewing is a truly magical thing.

“We will be stocking the ale in all of our Staffordshire pubs and a few just over the border too, and I can’t wait. It’s a really fitting way to celebrate Stoke on Trent’s centenary. Thank you Titanic.”

Cllr Sharpe has a long history of supporting the real ale sector and in 2017 was named CAMRA’s National campaigner of the year- one of only six women to get this award in the organisation’s history.