24th September 2007

Oxfordshire floods inspires a special brew

Hook Norton brewery has brewed a new beer dedicated to those who fought the great floods of 2007. The beer, Inspired, at 4.6 per cent, carries a special inscription on its label to enable drinkers to toast the efforts of friends, family and colleagues who helped tackle the July deluge. It says:

"During the course of producing this beer, Oxfordshire suffered devastating floods. "We therefore dedicate this beer to all those who have assisted in dealing with the flooding, and demonstrating what fine people there are in this county."

The brewery itself suffered a flooded cellar and lost about 200 casks of beer while the Hooky pub the Queens Head, Sedgeberrow, Evesham, Worcestershire has been forced to close until Christmas. Managing director James Clarke said:"We were designing the labels for the new beer and the county was suffering from the floods at the time. "There are two retained firefighters on our staff and they were so busy that it brought it home how much hard work was being done."

The original intention behind Inspired was to mark Oxfordshire's millennium celebrations. As a result, the beer is not only brewed locally but also uses entirely local ingredients. Mr Clarke added:"This is the first time in living memory the brewery has created a totally local brew with malt from Swalcliffe, hops from Kingston Bagpuize and water from our own wells underneath the brewery.

Oxford Inspires, the county's cultural development agency which is coordinating the county's millennium celebrations, teamed up with the brewery to produce the new beer. Inspires is also available in bottles and is on sale in the Visitor Centre.