History Beers

From time to time, you may across a beer that has a connection to a historical event or figure from history. Over the years there’s been dozens of beers named after or inspired by a notable historical individual, ranging from monarchs to scientists and even the odd entertainer or two. Well-known historical figures like William Shakespeare, Horatio Nelson, Robert Burns, King John I, Winston Churchill and Charles Dickens have frequently been featured in a number of beers, although less well-known figures have also featured on beers like Long Strides (4.4%) - Orkney, inspired by John Rae, a Scottish explorer who was the first to explore the Northwest Passage of Canada, or Wilks Wonder (4.5%) – Burton Bridge, that celebrates the development of the Land Rover and it’s inventor Maurice Wilks. In this article we will explore the various historical figures from times gone by, who have influenced breweries all over the UK to name their beers in retrospect.

 

Certain figures from history tend to get more coverage than others when it comes to naming beers in their memory. Monarchs tend to be a popular draw, none more so than King John I, who was best known for the signing of the Magna Carta and a disastrous reign that led to the loss of British territories in France. Which in turn has inspired a number of breweries to produce beers that commemorate his plight, ranging from Magna Carta Ale (4.2%) – Nethergate, King John (4.2%) – Andwell Brewing Co., Magna Carta (7.2%) – Windsor & Eton, Bad King John (6%) – Hepworth, Lincoln Magna Carta (5%) – Milestone and King John’s Jewels (4.5%) – 8 Sail to name a few, the latter which was inspired by the disappearance of King John’s treasure that vanished in the Wash estuary during a disastrous trip across the Norfolk broads in 1216. Another notable example is Queen Victoria who has inspired a number of beers and pub names (both factual and fictional) over the years, noted for her eventful 63-year reign that saw massive changes in the Britain’s economy and industry. Such examples have flowed over the years, including Victoria Works (4.3%) - Weatheroak, Victoria Bitter (3.6%) – Earl Soham, Drina (4.2%) – Fuller’s, Victoria Pale Ale (3.5%) – Heritage Brewing Co. and Empress of India (6.1%) – Newtown, the latter example in commermoration of the notable event in 1877 when Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli bestowed the title to the Queen, in order to further Britain’s ties with India, and closely link the monarchy with empire. Her successors have also influenced beer names from Edward VII with the likes of First Emperor (4.6%) – Eden River Brew Co and Eddie’s Best (3.9%) – Nethergate, whilst George V has featured in King George’s Bitter (4%) – Littleover, King George (4%) – Little Brewing Co and King George V (4.3%) - Archers. Even, Queen Elizabeth II has featured on a slew of beers over the years Monarch (4.2%) – Rebellion, Cheers Ma’am (4.2%) – Marstons, Royal Wave (4.1%) – Skinners, Queen’s Tipple (4.2%) – Robinsons, and Diamond Reign (4.1%) – Castle Rock to name a few. Perhaps the most iconic example was Elizabethan Ale (7.2%) – Harvey’s, a barley wine first released in 1953 (on the year of her coronation), it became popular enough to be brewed every year until the final edition marking the Platinum Jubilee was released shortly after her passing in September 2022. 

 

Horatio Nelson is another celebrated historical individual has also heavily influenced the name of a number of beers and pubs across the country, he is noted for his sterling efforts as a commander in quelling the threats from the Franco-Spanish fleets during the early 19^th century before perishing at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, a number of beers spring to mind including Tapping the Admiral (4%) – Shepherd Neame, named after the well-known rumour when crewmates tapped the barrel of brandy in which Nelson was embalmed in enroute to England, Victory Ale (6%) – Bateman’s, in remembrance of the ship Nelson commandeered during his final voyage, and Nelson’s Revenge (4.5%) – Woodfordes, one of a number of Nelson themed beers produced by the brewery, which has become their most notable and successful releases. Former prime ministers have also attracted brewers to reference their name sake, from the likes of Benjamin Disraeli Hughenden Ale (4.8%) – Chiltern, which was commissioned by Hughenden Manor Museum, former residence of Disraeli; Baldwin IPA (4.2%) – Bewdley, named after the town’s most iconic MP and three times Prime Minister, Stanley Baldwin; and most notably Winston Churchill who led the country through World War Two and is considered by some as being one of this country’s greatest leaders, his namesake has been referenced in beers from breweries across the world from the likes of the US, Australia and even Russia. Across the UK a number of breweries have referenced him, including the likes of Churchill HPA (4.5%) – Oxfordshire Ales, Churchill IPA (4.6%) – Greene King, Finest Hour (4.2%) – Rebellion, Churchill’s Fall (3.6%) – Brewhouse & Kitchen and British Bulldog (4.1%) – Westerham, the later example is coincidental, as the brewery happens to be based near his former residence Chartwell. Away from the world of politics and monarchy, certain figures from the illustrious world of the arts have been lauded by brewers. Perhaps the most potent example is William Shakespeare, who is purported to influenced the greatest number of pubs, breweries and beer names across the globe, more than any other playwright or figure from the arts. His likeliness has inspired a number of beer names including the likes of Shakespeare’s County (5%) – The Warwickshire Beer Co, The Globe Shakespeare’s Ale (4.2%) and Shakespeare’s IPA (6%) – North Cotswold Brewing Co. One brewery has gone to the lengths of naming themselves in his honour, The Shakespeare Brewing Company; based in Stretton on Fosse near Shakespeare’s hometown of Stratford upon Avon, they have produced a selection of suitably themed beers including The Bard’s Best (4.2%), The Othello (5%), The Macbeth (4.8%), The Tempest (5.2%), The Falstaff’s Folly (4%), The Puck’s IPA (3.6%) and King Lear’s Mocha Stout (5.6%), in commemoration of his much lauded range of plays. Perhaps a close second to Shakespeare would be the acclaimed Scottish poet Robert Burns, noted for such classics like 'Auld Lang Syne', 'Tam O’Shanter',  'Ae Fond Kiss', 'To a Louse' and 'Address to a Haggis', enough to promote him to national hero status in Scotland. A number of breweries both north and south of the border have named their beers after him, including Bard (4.6%) – Invarelmond, Burn’s Auld Sleekit (5.5%) – Coach House, named after a line his poem To a Mouse; Haggis Hunter (4.3%) – Harvistoun, Scottish Bard (4.1%) – Cairngorm, Robert Burns Brown Ale (4.1%) – Belhaven and Guid Ale (3.8%)- Arran, inspired by Burn’s poem ‘Gude Ale Keeps the Heart Aboon’ which deals the jollified excesses of its drunken protagonist, whom regularly proclaims the beneficial qualities of ale. 

 

Over time, some of these historical beers have become highly successful and well known,  certain ones come to mind like JHB (3.8%) – Oakham Brewery, which was one of their very first releases after the launch of their brewery in 1993 and was named after Jeffrey Hudson a courtier from King Charles I’s court whom measured 3ft 6in and was also a skilled duellist, adventurer and fought with the royalists in the English Civil War; like his stature the beer is suitably low in ABV, yet it packs a citrussy and hoppy bitterness which echoes Hudson’s fervent personality. The beer has won a huge number of awards over the years including Champion Beer of Britian (1999) – Silver, SIBA Beer of East Anglia – Gold (2007) and International Beer Challenge (2012) – Bronze, to name but a few.  Another notable example is Nelson’s Revenge (4.5%) – Woodfordes, which first appeared in October 1989, less than a year after their current Broadland Brewery site opened. One of several beers of theirs inspired by Horatio Nelson, this one is perhaps the most notable. A rather bitter beer, it is made with five varieties of hops together with local Norfolk barley, in order to give its distinct citrussy spiced malty taste. It has been voted Champion Beer of Norfolk and has won a slew of other awards including a good number at the Champion Beer of Britain awards where it won gongs in the Best Bitter category several times including Gold in 2014. Perhaps the most successful example in recent years is Darwin’s Origin (4.3%) – Salopian Brewery, first released in 2009 to mark the bicentenary of Charles Darwin’s birth. Darwin whom has been considered one history’s greatest naturalists and biologists, is widely known for his contributions into the development of evolutionary biology and his landmark publication ‘The Origin of the Species’, of which the beer is named after. In the spirit of the great man himself, the beer uses both new and old world hops that gives it a distinctive international taste. The beer has also won a number of awards ranging from Gold at the SIBA Digital Awards (2020) and more recently Bronze for Supreme Champion Beer of Britian at GBBF 2023, which proves indeed it’s a product of Darwinism as it has achieved survival of the fittest.

 

Breweries from across the UK have produced a number of beers featuring the likeliness or namesake of a notable individual from history. Sometimes these beers have appeared a one-off special like for instance Bo66y (4.2%) – Greene King, which was released in 2016 to mark the 50^th anniversary of England winning the World Cup finals and celebrates the efforts of the team’s captain Bobby Moore; or Tapping the Admiral (4%) – Shepherd Neame, which was initially released on 2005 to mark the bicentenary of Nelson’s victory at The Battle of Trafalgar. Occasionally breweries have released a succession of limited-edition releases as part of a ongoing series, for instance between 2016-18, Rebellion Brewery released a series of limited edition beers under several series titles, including the likes of English Greats 2016, Great Britons 2017 and World Greats, notably featuring such beers like Armada (4.2%) – Sir Frances Drake, Engineer (4.2%) – Isambard Kingdon-Brunel, Humbug (4.2%) – Charles Dickens, The Greatest (4.2%) – Muhammed Ali and Relativity (4.2%) – Albert Einstein, to name a few.  A few years ago, Falstaff Brewery, a microbrewery based in Derby released 16 beers under their Catchphrase banner, all featuring individuals and fictional characters from the world of entertainment known for their classic catchphrases, including the likes of Bowen (4.3%), Cooper (4.2%), Everett (4.3%), Grayson (4.3%) and Robinson (4.3%) for instance. Meanwhile for several years Burton Bridge Brewery was involved in it’s ongoing Gold Medal Series which charts famous moments in history, notable individuals like L.S. Lowry, Orson Welles, Laurence Olivier, Pat Phoenix and Kenneth Williams have featured on releases, to less obvious ones like John Flamstead, Robert Watson-Watt, Tom Stevens and Maurice Wilks. Some notable releases include Horizontal Hold (4.5%) which celebrates John Logie-Baird’s first showing of a practical television system to members of the Royal Society in Jaunary 1926, Big Swig (4.5%) which commemorates astronaut Jack Swigert’s ingenious efforts to maintain the survival of his crew during the ill-fated voyage of Apollo 13 in 1970, and Screwbedoo (4.5%) which memorialises the efforts of Sir Jospeh Whitworth, whom in 1841 devised the British Standard Whitworth system, which created an accepted standard for screw threads.

 

More frequently is the case however, that breweries have featured such ‘historical beers’ as part of their regular range, either sold on a frequent or seasonal basis. There’s notable award winners like JHB (3.8%) – Oakham Brewery, Nelson’s Revenge (4.5%) – Woodfordes and Darwin’s Origin (4.3%) – Salopian Brewery, beers inspired by monarchs like First Emperor (4.6%) – Eden River Brew Co., Bad King John (6%) – Hepworth and Tickle Brain (8%) – Burton Bridge, which coincidentally was the Tudor name for strong ale and bears the likeliness of Henry VIII on its bottle design. Moreover, there are ales named after notable politicians and militarists, like Baldwin IPA (4.2%) – Bewdley, Victory Ale (6%) – Bateman’s, Tom Paine (5.5%) – Harvey’s, Cromwell Bitter (4%) – Milestone, William Wilberforce’s Freedom Ale (4.8%) and British Bulldog (4.1%) – Westerham. Alongside beers named notable individuals from the arts, such as Bring Me Sunshine (4.2%) – Tring, inspired by famed local resident Eric Morecambe; Juice Forsyth (5%) – Brew York, a distinctly fruity tropical IPA made in tribute to the legendary entertainer Bruce Forsyth; A Dickens of an Ale (4.2%) – Hornes, a seasonal spiced ale in honour of Charles Dickens, author of A Christmas Carol, and The Bard’s Best (4.2%) – The Shakespeare Brewing Company, one of a number of Shakespeare themed beers produced by the brewery. Even individuals who have made a valuable contribution to society have featured on well-known releases like Telford Porter (6%) – Conwy, in commemoration of one of the county’s greatest industrial engineers Thomas Telford , Mompession’s Calling (5.5%) – Eyam, in honour of clergyman William Mompesson noted for successfully containing an outbreak of the plague in his parish of Eyam; Long Strides (4.4%) – Orkney which lauds John Rae’s accomplishments as a explorer, and Edith Cavell (3.7%) - Wolf, named after the nurse who helped pioneer modern nursing practises in Belgium, and notably treated soldiers on both sides during WW1.

 

Many historical influenced beers have come and gone over the years, although the more well-known examples like Shakespeare, King John I, Churchill or Nelson tend to take the spotlight, a whole manner of notable historical personages from various walks of life have appeared on beer names over the years. Some may feature just their names, whilst others take inspiration from well known instances from their lives and present in a creative fashion. Some breweries have even gone to the lengths of naming themselves after famous historical individuals like the Shakespeare Brewing Co. and Dickensian Brewery for instance. Moreover, the UK is not alone at this, breweries from all around the world from the US, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand and even the Netherlands for example have released beers that have commemorated historical individuals. Yet on the whole, this area tends to be a niche one, but when one finds a bottle or a pump clip at a pub that their bears the likeliness of a famous civil engineer, monarch, inventor, politician or entertainer, this inclines to pique the curiosity with anyone with an interest in history as they prepare to sup their pint and commemorate that drink to their memory.