Back in November, Vale Brewery released their latest product Into
the Void (4.1%), in tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne who died last July.
The beer was named after Black Sabbath’s 1971 hit, it was developed by head
brewer David Renton, a huge Sabbath fan who created this beer in tribute to the
prince of darkness, it is described on its pump clips as a Sabbath stout. In
the wake of Osbourne’s passing, a number of other breweries produced tributes,
including Paranoid (4.1%) by Stourbridge based brewers Green Duck, named
after Sabbath’s breakthrough single, its pump clip features the skull adorned throne
that Osbourne was sitting on during his homecoming concert at Villa Park.
Likewise, Bark at the Moon (6.66%) by Dark Revolution, was inspired by Osbourne’s 1983 hit, uses
NZ hops that were harvested on 14th March 2025 during a rare double occurrence
of a lunar eclipse/ blood red moon, during a 24-hour window. The beer was
subsequently brewed on a full moon, and released in October, dedicated to
Osbourne’s memory.
Over the years, a number of breweries have developed their own
memorial beers for the departed. In the world of entertainment, following Tina
Turner’s passing in May 2023, the following month, Kent Brewery produced Simply
the Best (3.8%), made in honour of the passing of the Queen of Rock ‘n’
Roll, rather appropriately it was a best bitter, named after the title of her
1983 chart topper that subsequently became her signature song. Another luminary
of the music industry Gord Downie was memorialised in beer form in the wake of
his death in October 2017, when two breweries based in Halifax (Canada), Rock
and Garrison Brewing Co. collaborated to produce Courage for Gord Downie
(6%) in memoriam to the late frontman of the band Tragically Hip, notably one
of the best-selling bands in Canada. Initially 2000 bottles were anticipated
for a small batch release, this figure was later upped to 6000 for national distribution.
$1 from each sale was donated to the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada and
Indigenous people’s reconciliation. Going stateside, in early 2022 Odd by
Nature Brewing released Thank You For Being A Friend (6.2%), it was originally
planned to celebrate the centenary of actress Betty White, who unfortunately
passed away a few weeks before reaching the big 100, so it ended up being a
memorial release instead. The can feature’s White’s likeliness bursting out of
a birthday cake, an inspired by the title song of ‘The Golden Girls’ which she
starred in throughout its successful 7 year run. More recently, Hulkmania
Forever (4.2%) debuted at the WWE’s Wrestlepalooza at Lucas Oil Stadium,
Indianopolis, made in collaboration between WWE and Real American Brewery, it
was created in memory of Hulk Hogan who died last July, its name was inspired
by the marketing craze he promoted as his fame exploded in the early 80’s. The
beer was sold in limited edition cans featuring his likeliness, a dedicated
toast was also featured at the event. Closer to home, the Fulford Arms brewery
in Winchester developed Golden Jet (?) in memoriam to Jet Harris, one of
the founding members of The Shadows. It debuted at the Winchester Beer Festival
held at Queen Inn, Winchester in May 2012. It was sold to boost funds for the
Jet Harris Memorial Fund which was set up in the wake of his death, launched to
support Cancer Research UK’s UK’s probe into the Cancer of the Unknown Primary
(CUP). Ironically, Harris was teetotal later in life, after overcoming a battle
with alcoholism.
Aside from famous people, various local heroes have also been
the subject of tributes. Keith Alecroft (4.2%) by Cross Bay Brewing, was
created in memory of well-known local musician Keith Ashcroft who died in
November 2020, during his lifetime, Ashcroft played at the Morecambe Music
Festival on a yearly basis, and taught at local schools, and Promenade Music. At
the Morecambe Music Festival the following July, the beer was sold in tribute,
and subsequently was voted beer of the festival. The following year, Little Mester’s
brewery in Sheffield produced Stan (4.6%) in tribute to local
knife-maker Stan Shaw who was internationally renowned, crafting blades for
clients including Queen Elizabeth II, Elvis Presley and US presidents including
George W. Bush. The beer debuted at the launched at Millowners Arms, which is a
small pub within Kelham Island Museum where Stan Shaw's knife collection is
held.[1]
Occasionally tribute beers are inspired by a person’s appearance, like Ginger
Beer’d (4.6%) by Four Priests, produced in memory of local beer enthusiast
Liam Bridle, manager of The Beer Emporium in Sandbach) who passed away at the
early age of 37 in 2023. Head brewer Andy Thompson added grated ginger to the
brew in reference to Bridle’s distinctive appearance. The development of the
beer was featured in the Channel 5 doc ‘Britain’s Most Scenic Counties:
Cheshire’, and later the same year it was voted Beer of the Festival at the
Middlewitch Beer Festival. Over in Norfolk, in February 2017, Beers of Europe collaborated
with Moon Gazer brewery to release the limited-edition Juggling Jim (4%)
series to honour the life of local busker Anthony ‘Juggling Jim’ Bowen who
entertained locals in the Kings Lynn area during his lifetime. The beers were essentially
repackaged versions of Moon Gazer’s core-range products Ruby, Gold and Amber, with
special commemorative labels celebrating Bowen’s and his impact on the town. Moon
Gazer later collaborated with another local brewer Barsham in 2022, when they
produced Tony’s Tribute (3.9%) in memory of Tony Banham who was notably
he was a key figure in the revival of the Maris Otter malt variety during the
1990’s, who saw potential for its future due to the growing band of craft
brewers who demanded its brewing qualities and flavour profile. Following
Banham’s passing that January, the two brewers approached his son Mark to see
if they could develop tribute beers that showcased Banham’s signature malt, he
suggested they should combine forces and develop a collaboration beer.
Like Banham, a number of luminaries from the world of brewing
have been memorialised in beer form over time. In 2020, St. Austell released Tribute
XXtra (6.8%) in memory of former head brewer Roger Ryman who passed away in
May. [2]
A stronger version of his iconic creation Tribute (4.2%), upon joining
the brewery in 1999, Ryman helped transform the fortunes of the brewery,
introducing popular products like Korev (4.8%), Mena Dhu (4.5%)
and Proper Job (4.5%) that have helped propel the brewery into becoming
one of the major players in the UK brewing industry. More recently, Hook Norton
produced One for the Road (3.4%) a green hop ale created in tribute to
Jo Clarke, wife of the brewery’s managing director James Clarke, who passed
away last August. The name and pump clip reflects Jo’s love of motorcycles, coincidentally
during the harvest, the hops were transported by Mr. Clarke and friends using motorcycles
rather fittingly.[3] Funds from the sale of the beer went to
Warwickshire Air Ambulance, who attended Mrs Clarke’s aid following a
motorcycle crash. Usually, brewery founders have frequently been under the spotlight
of tributes, in June 2018, Oakham Ales debuted One to Yourself (4.4%) at
the Rutland Beer Festival that year.[4]
It was developed in tribute to the then recently departed John Wood, who established
the brewery in 1993. The title is a reference to Morris Dancers, which Wood himself
was involved in. The beer uses four Slovenian hop varieties (Fox, Eagle,
Kolibri and Cardinal) in reflection of Wood’s drive to experiment with new hops.
Meanwhile following Geoff Mumford’s (co-founder of Burton Bridge Brewery) death
in August 2024 aged 82, the following May the brewery paid tribute with Mumford
Mild (4.2%), the beer paid tribute to Mumford’s contribution to the pub
industry around Burton and his wider impact as a purveyor of the independent
brewery boom in the UK. The pump clips feature his beloved 1938 Morris
Commercial Dray which he frequently used to transport casks to pubs around
Burton. Overseas there have been examples of breweries paying tribute to their
departed colleagues, Georges IV (8%) by Deca Brouwerij was developed by
current owner Nicholas Christianes in memory of his father and predecessor Georges
Christianes who died in a car-crash in December 2013.
Christianes launched the brewery in 1980 after he brought bought the DECA
brewery from the Decaestecker family; the beer is aged for two years in whiskey
barrels, in honour of his craft. Moreover, each year the Craft Brewers
Association Of Nova Scotia which comprises of several breweries operating in
the region, team up to create a collaboration beer. Last year, their latest release
Together We Brew 2025 (5%) was a tribute to the late Kevin Keefe, who
founded Granite Brewery in 1985, it was notably the first craft brewery in the
region. In reflection of the English style brewing techniques which he brought
over, the beer was developed as a best bitter, which they described as "bready
and full-bodied with a balanced bitterness."
In 2019, on the tenth anniversary of Fyne Ales founder Jonny
Delap’s passing, the brewery collaborated with Lacons to develop JSD (6%),
which was effectively a stronger version of Highlander (4.8%) which was one of
Delap’s favourite beers that he developed during his tenure at the brewery (between
2001-9) along with his wife Tuggy. Amplified in strength and dry hopped with
Celia and Mount Hood hops, it was exclusively sold as a small batch special. The
late Capt. Jack Edwards has an indirect link to the brewing industry, as his
daughter Adrienne Hodge runs Bold Republic Brewing with her husband Patrick. When
they heard that the National Desert Storm War Memorial was struggling to reach
their $40 million fundraising goal to build a memorial, they decided to help out
and thus produced Capt. Jack (6.7%) in tribute to Adrienne’s father who
was the first officer killed during the Gulf War in 1991. The beer was released
on 6th July 2019 at an event held at their brewery, 100% of the profits were
donated towards the funding of the memorial. There have been a number of
belated tribute beers out there, for instance Brian Clough (4.2%) by
Castle Rock, which debuted in 2015 as part of the brewery’s small batch series
of beers celebrating Nottingham’s heroes and heroines. The beer celebrates one
of the UK’s greatest football managers[5],
on the pump clips it features one of his quotes “I wouldn’t say I was the best
manager in the business, but I was in the top one.” Initially a limited release
special, it has subsequently been resold annually as a seasonal release. On the
subject of iconic quotes, John Candy’s memorable appearance as the polka band
leader Gus Polinksi in the film ‘Home Alone’ (1990) was memorialised in the likes
of Very Big in Sheboygan (6.5%) by Three Sheep’s Brewing Co. The beer
was developed after the organisers of the inaugural Sheboygan Film Fest
approached the brewery to create a beer for their festival. Since Candy was
featured in the opening night screening, the brewers sought to develop
something that reflected his iconic quote where he states that his polka band Kenosha
Kickers were very big in Sheboygan. Sticking the local theme, over in Chicago, Thrower’s
Scotch Ale (7%) was developed by Haymarket brewery in memoriam to local
sporting legend Willie Thrower, who notably was the first Black quarterback to
the play in the National American Football League as a member of the Chicago Bears.
The beer came out on the 20th anniversary of Thrower’s death, when
brewery owner was looking to produce a special beer that could be released
around the start of the Bears 2022 season.
Over the years, a wide range of people have been memorialised
in beer form, from local heroes to luminaries in show business and sports, as
well as people connected to the brewing industry including head brewers and former
brewery owners/ founders. These beers are effectively the brewing industry’s
equivalent of holding a wake, where people would gather round following a
funeral, drinking in alcohol and raising toasts in memory of the departed individual.
Conversely these beers are a very public form of tribute and have been
invariably been utilized to support charitable causes or promoted at local beer
festivals. Most these releases would be unfamiliar with readers, since they
were generally released on a small-batch limited release, though some have defied
this habit and have gone on to be regular/ seasonal releases in their own
right, thus creating a lasting legacy. Each memorial beer tells a story, and it
is always intriguing whenever a new one is released.
[1] Unusually for a memorial beer, the beer continued to be produced until last Summer when the alcohol’s industry complaints panel (ICP) upheld a complaint that the pump clip’s imagery contravened a code rule, decreeing that a drink should not display imagery with links to violent/ anti-social behaviour.
[2] It’s
title is a reference to the marking system used by brewers in the 19th century
where beers would be labelled by strength. X would mean Single Strength while
XX was for double strength and XXX for triple.
[3] The
term “one for the road” has a number of meanings, although it’s commonly a byword
for having one more alcoholic drink before heading home, the phrase supposedly
originates from condemned prisoners travelling enroute from Newgate Prison to
the Tyburn gallows, where they were offered one last drink before making their
final journey. It’s more likely a
publican’s simple plea to delay departure of a customer, in order to encourage
more custom.
[4] It
was appropriately awarded beer of the festival.
[5] He
passed away in 2004, over a decade before the beer’s release.