Titanic Brewery raises a glass to city’s Centenary with celebratory brew
A brewery that has been making beer in Stoke-on-Trent for 40 years is brewing a special ale to celebrate the city’s 100th anniversary.
Titanic Brewery – based in Burslem - has teamed up with the city council to produce a limited-edition beer in honour of the city’s Centenary.
Century Anniversary Ale - a traditional 4.7% ABV amber ale - will be available in bottles, cans and on cask in pubs across Staffordshire.
The beer’s design celebrates the city’s heritage, with labels and pump clips featuring the iconic bottle kilns that define The Potteries skyline. A portion of the proceeds from every sale will go to the Titanic Brewery Foundation, which supports charities across the region.
The Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, Councillor Lyn Sharpe, visited Titanic Brewery on 30 April to help bring this beer to life, alongside Titanic’s head brewer Will Bott.
The initial brewing process, which took about a day to complete, involved bringing together the four key ingredients of beer – water, hops, malted barley and yeast. The yeast then got to work, fermenting the liquid over several days.
Cllr Sharpe said: “I know first-hand about Titanic Brewery’s historic role in this city as I worked there as a tour guide for a number of years until 2024.
“Visitors loved learning about what happens to some simple ingredients in a brewery and how they’re turned into a beautiful pint of beer for you to enjoy in your local pub. Stoke-on-Trent’s brewing heritage has played a proud role in our first 100 years, and this ale is a fantastic way to toast our centenary.
“The designs on the pump clips mean that pubgoers across the region will learn about our centenary and be able to raise a glass to this historic year.”
David Glenwright, from Titanic Brewing, said: “We are genuinely honoured to be working with the city council to produce this commemorative ale, celebrating both the city’s centenary, and our own 40th anniversary. When Titanic Brewery was established in 1985, founder John Pazio had a simple goal, to create great beer to bring together wonderful local communities.
“It is this same goal that drives us to this day, and whilst our beers may be enjoyed by drinkers around the world, we make sure they know their pint was proudly shipped to them from The Potteries.
“Stoke-on-Trent’s 100th Anniversary is a momentous occasion, and we’re excited to raise a glass or two of Century Anniversary Ale and say ‘Cheers!’ to 100 years of this incredible city and its people.”
Debbie Whittingham, Regional Manager and Employee Director at JD Wetherspoons, said: “James Mancell, pub manager at The Reginald Mitchell, and I were thrilled and delighted to have been invited along to the ‘mashing’ at Titanic Brewery of this celebratory brew.
“I can tell you that the smell in that mash room was just unbelievably gorgeous. It was great to be reminded of just how genuine real ale is, being brewed in the same way for centuries. The art of brewing is a truly magical thing.
“We will be stocking the ale in all of our Staffordshire pubs and a few just over the border too and I can’t wait. It’s a fitting way to celebrate Stoke-on-Trent’s centenary. Thank you, Titanic.”
Councillor Sharpe has long championed the real ale sector. In 2017, she was named CAMRA National Campaigner of the Year, one of only six women to receive the award in the organisation’s history.
For more information on Stoke-on-Trent Centenary events, visit www.sot100.org.uk