Dame Vera Lynn tribute ale, alcohol-free Guinness, Untappd birthday brew and LGBTQ charity collaboration

Bedlam Brewery commemorates Dame Vera Lynn

Award-winning Sussex-based Bedlam Brewery has unveiled The Dame, a limited edition 4.2% ABV amber ale dedicated to the memory of local resident, Dame Vera Lynn, the ‘forces sweetheart’ who passed away earlier this year.

As a thank you from the team at Bedlam for her lifetime of national service, they’ve produced beer with which people can raise a glass in her memory and by doing so, raise funds for a worthy cause – 20p from every bottle or pint sold will be donated to a charity selected in consultation with Dame Vera’s family.

The Dame will be available direct from Bedlam between early October through to the end of November in draft cask ale in Sussex, Kent and London, as well as 500ml bottles nationwide. 

“We were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Dame Vera earlier this year, who leaves so many wonderful memories of the positive messages she portrayed during a dark period in our Nation’s history,” Bedlam CEO Bob Emms said. 

“Given the challenges we’re all again facing, we thought we would produce The Dame to enable our customers to raise a glass in her memory and look forward to better times. 

“The imagery we’ve created combines local landmark Ditchling Beacon with a field of poppies, both of which were dear to Dame Vera’s heart.”

Guinness launches no-alcohol Guinness 0.0​ 

As reported by The Morning Advertiser (MA)​, the brewers at Guinness’ St James’s Gate home in Dublin have unveiled new no-alcohol, low calorie, serve Guinness 0.0.​

A four-year process led by Guinness’ Dublin-based technical and innovation teams has culminated in the release of the new non-alcoholic pour which boasts just 16 calories per 100ml – meaning that a standard can of alcohol-free Guinness 0.0 contains 70 calories.

Guinness 0.0 is produced using the same method employed throughout its historic alcoholic counterpart's 261-year history, using the same natural ingredients – water, barley, hops and yeast – before removing the alcohol through a cold filtration method, which allows the alcohol to be filtered out without putting the beer under thermal stress. 

Launching across Great Britain from 26 October, Guinness 0.0 will be on sale in 440ml can four-pack format in off-licences and supermarkets before being made available in pubs across Ireland and Great Britain from Spring 2021. 

Greene King joins forces with Tiny Rebel 

Suffolk-based brewer and pub operator Greene King has partnered with Welsh Brewery Tiny Rebel to create exclusive cask beer, 4.2% ABV Cosmic Pale.

Brewed by Greene King’s head brewer Ross O’Hara and Tiny Rebel, the session pale ale with citrus fruit notes and a crisp dry finish is available exclusively across 115 Greene King Premium, Urban & Venture pubs.

“We were keen to brew a super-accessible beer that would resonate with the cask community alongside engaging with craft beer fanatics and believe the pale ale profile of ‘Cosmic Pale’ will resonate with both audiences,” O’Hara said. 

“It’s a beer that’s hoppy and citrussy, making it a pint that definitely deserves more than one try. We had a great time brewing the ale with Gazz and the team at Tiny Rebel and we can’t wait to see what our customers think of Cosmic Pale.”

Gazz Willams, co-founder of Tiny Rebel added: “The idea to create a beer with Greene King came from a discussion with Greene King’s head brewer, Ross O’Hara at Craft Beer Rising. 

“I have always been a huge fan of cask beer so it’s been great to work with Ross to create Cosmic Pale, I hope Greene King customers enjoy it as much as we do." 

Beavertown and Dogfish Head toast ten years of Untappd 

Beavertown Brewery has created a limited-edition beer to celebrate 10 years of Untappd in tandem with American brewery Dogfish Head.

A base recipe for I Remember My First Check-In was sent to participating breweries, offering beer makers the chance to put their own spin on it by sourcing at least one ingredient directly from a grower or supplier within 100 miles of their brewery. 

As renowned sour beer brewers, Dogfish Head were chosen to lead on creating the base recipe.

For their rendition, Beavertown – currently the only English brewery taking part in the Untappd birthday celebration – added local fruit and lactose to create a limited edition 5% kettle sour, packed with local blackberries and raspberries. 

“When I started dreaming of being a brewer, Dogfish Head were one of my biggest influences, and they still are, Logan Plant, founder and CEO of Beavertown said. “I’m humbled to say that Sam is a really good friend of mine now and has been a mentor from across the pond. 

“He’s still pushing craft beer as passionately as ever and he’s a massive inspiration for me and how I think about beer and the industry.  

“To be asked to collaborate on the celebration of Untappd’s ten-year anniversary, with the opportunity to support local producers and create a beer that commemorated both was an absolute pleasure. I look forward to the release and I hope everyone enjoys it." 

Mondo Brewing collaborates with The Queer Brewing Project

Mondo Brewing has teamed up with The Queer Brewing Project to brew Chosen Family, a 5.2% ABV seasonal American Brown Ale as part of their Progress Beer Series. 

The new brew will be released in mid-November with proceeds going towards LGBTQ mental health service MindOut.

“This collaboration with Mondo is the first Queer Brewing collaboration in a short while, and what a collab to come back to,” Queer Brewing Project founder Lily Waite explained. 

“I’m always keen to brew with a seasonal focus, so brewing a brown ale for the autumn is a dream! This beer is everything I want to be drinking as the nights draw in–cosy toffee and dried fruit notes overlaid with a delicious, but subtle bitterness—and I’m particular excited about its impact too.

“MindOut is a charity Queer Brewing has supported in the past, and with all of the pressures of the pandemic, I’m pleased to be supporting their vital work in bettering mental health amongst the LGBTQ+ community.” 

Mondo, a member of the Work in Progress network of breweries aspiring to create a more inclusive and representative beer industry, recently brewed Black is Beautiful Imperial Stout, a global collaboration with Weathered Souls, proceeds of which were donated to The Black Curriculum.

“We’re hugely excited to team up with Lily Waite for the first brew in our Progress Series,” Mondo Brewing co-founder Todd Matteson said. “We're working to build a business, and help shape an industry, that's reflective of the community we serve." 

Big Drop launches winter specials 

Alcohol-free brewer Big Drop Brewing Co will unveil 0.5% ABV winter specials ‘Firesider’ and ‘Kinzig’ on 26 October. 

Firesider is a pumpkin spiced ale, brewed with a blend of toasted malts, pumpkin yeast and seasonal spices - including cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves, while Kinzig, named after a river in Germany’s Black Forest, is a stout boasting a chocolatey flavour and dark cherry undertones, reminiscent of a Black Forest Gateau.

“We loved developing these two beers because they push the boundaries of AF alchemy and are just perfect for the time of year,” Nick Worthington, commercial director of Big Drop, commented.

“There’s now a certain expectation that our specials will be something out of the ordinary and these really deliver on that.  

“The results mean that any dark beer fan will be spoilt for choice this Winter and still be at their best, no matter what life throws at them.”

Calvors launches two new brews 

Suffolk-based brewery, Calvors, has added a pair of new pours to its on-trade range.

Its new 4.3% ABV Dry Hopped Lager was originally intended as a limited-edition canned line, however after being inundated with requests it went back in the tanks twice over and will join Calvors’ core kegged line-up. 

What’s more, the brewer has also launched a 7.2% ABV departure from its usual styles with new brew Baltic Porter. A dark and complex beer packed with carefully chosen roasted malts, the cold fermentation using lager years delivers a clean, silky smooth profile according to its creators.