A collaboration between a Bath tourist attraction and a micro-brewery has resulted in the creation of a new beer in honour of the city’s most famous resident.
The Jane Austen Centre, located in the city’s Gay Street and the Bath Brew House, have joined forces to produce the Jane Austen 200 Beer.
The new brew celebrates Jane Austen’s bicentenary year – which includes the 200th Anniversary of her death and the posthumous publication of her two ‘Bath’ novels.
To ferment the partnership, a Centre team, including Senior Meeter & Greeter Martin Salter and Austen Festival director, Jackie Herring, recently visited the brewery.
While there, they helped in the brewing process of the new drink, which is described as a light, hoppy and refreshing ale with added Earl Grey flavouring.
Although it may seem an unlikely tribute to the creator of such classics of English Literature as Pride & Prejudice and Emma, Austen herself was a dab hand at brewing.
Centre General Manager, Paul Crossey said: ‘In her time, beer was regarded as being safer than water to drink and so many families, included Austen’s, brewed their own.
Max Cadman, Head Brewer from the Bath Brew House said: ‘We really enjoyed brewing this beer with the Jane Austen Centre, this is a style of beer I’ve wanted to brew for a
while so this has been a great opportunity to use a recipe that includes Earl Grey tea. I’m sure this beer would be one that Jane Austen would enjoy drinking!
Fans of the author will be able to enjoy the celebratory tipple from July 1st; when the first pint will be pulled at 11am at the Bath Brew House.
It will then be available later the same day at the annual Jane Austen Summer Ball, which takes place at the city’s Guildhall.
As well as the Summer Ball, the Jane Austen 200 beer will be available from the Bath Brew House throughout July and the Jane Austen Festival, in Bath, in September.
Austen visited Bath several times in the 1790s, was a resident for six years, between 1801 and 1806, and set two books in the city – Northanger Abbey and Persuasion.
