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6th July 2017

Ale and arty: Bradford brewery creates birthday brew for city’s famous son.

Graeme Rothery, head brewer, Bradford Brewery

 

Bradford Brewery has created a special celebratory beer to mark the 80th birthday of the city’s most famous artist, David Hockney, and the opening of a new art gallery in his name.

 

Bradford-born Hockney, voted ‘Britain’s greatest living artist’, turns 80 on Sunday, July 9, and the occasion will be marked with a number of celebration events, including the opening of a brand new David Hockney gallery at Cartwright Hall in the city’s Lister Park.

 

Bradford Brewery, which is based nearby in Bradford City Centre, has created the new brew, and a special edition pump clip, for Cartwright Hall and the city’s Museums Service, so Bradfordians and visitors can raise a glass of cask ale to the well-loved birthday boy during the celebration events.

 

Hockney’s 80th, “an artistic pale ale” will be centre stage at the official opening ceremony for the gallery on Thursday evening, (July 6).

 

Head Brewer Graeme Rothery will be in attendance to talk about the beer and the brewing process to VIP guests including Bradford Council Leader Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, the Friends of Bradford Museums, and around 400 museum and educational professionals, Hockney enthusiasts and relatives. The event is jointly sponsored by Bradford College whose student ambassadors will be serving drinks.

 

Graeme Rothery said: “Hockney’s 80th is a new twist on the brewery’s core range Hockney Pale, with late addition hops added into the brew later on in the boil to give more flavour and aroma. The aim was to create a hoppy, vibrant and characterful beer that was session strength but full flavoured.”

 

The beer is a 3.6% pale ale described as: “Starting with a citrus and tropical fruit aroma, hoppy and crisp with a light, refreshing taste. The sweet maltiness balances perfectly with fresh citrus, floral and peppery notes provided by the Cascade and Comet hops added late in the process, to offer a light-coloured, thirst-quenching ale with a long balanced bitter finish”.

 

It will also be on the pumps at a big celebration party in Lister Park on Sunday, July 9 and at pubs across Yorkshire throughout July. It will be available from cask ale wholesalers, so will be seen in venues across the UK.

 

 

MORE FOLLOWS

 

The birthday celebrations in Lister Park will feature art, food, drink and live music for all, as well as family fun such as a puppet parade, iPad art, a giant ‘People in the Landscape’ photo montage, and actors representing the many stages of David Hockney’s life wandering around the park. A Hockney Express vintage bus will transport visitors from the famous Heritage village of Saltaire to Lister Park.

 

For more information about stocking Hockney’s 80th, please contact: michael@bradfordbrewery.com

or phone Head of Sales Michael Wilkinson on 01274 397053.