Adnams New Brew Celebrates Composer Benjamin Britten

Paul ButlerLatest News, News

Adnams have produced a limited edition beer to help commemorate the centenary of Benjamin Britten’s birth, the Suffolk-born composer.

The beer called “Native Britten” is a 4.5% ABV golden wheat beer made solely from ingredients sourced in Suffolk. Brewed with First Gold hops, local malted barley and wheat, and finished with a touch of thyme and honey.

This all helps to give the beer a citrusy and a light herbal aroma, and a perfect sweet and dry finish.

The limited-edition brew can be found in Adnams Cellar & Kitchen Stores and online at www.adnams.co.uk

Founder, Lee Cook, said:

“Whilst researching Britten’s life, one rich visual area was how his inspiration was often drawn from the Suffolk landscape. In an attempt to express the variety in his body of work we developed a range of three designs, inspired by the different land and seascapes which would have surrounded him. The Suffolk land, sea and marshlands were chosen to summarise these landscapes.”
Lee Cook, Founder

Adnams head brewer, Fergus Fitzgerald, said:

“Britten is one of the most celebrated British composers of the 20th century. I wasn’t over familiar with his work so I started my research by listening to his music, reading a biography and talking at length with Jonathan Reekie, chief executive of Aldeburgh Music. What stood out for me was an exchange between Peter Grimes and Balstrode in Britten’s opera Peter Grimes:

Peter: “I am native, rooted here”
Balstrode: “Rooted to what?”
Peter: “By familiar fields, marsh and sand…”

“These words motivated me to develop a beer using only Suffolk ingredients. Thyme is mentioned in Britten’s Midsummer Night’s Dream so we incorporated that into the recipe too. This has been a fascinating project which we hope will be popular at the many Britten events taking place throughout his centenary year. It may also bring Britten to the attention of those not previously familiar with his work.”

Fergus Fitzgerald, Adnams head brewer