Anna Maxwell Martin Launches ‘Thank Brew’ Charity Beer to mark Jubilee celebrations

• Actor Anna Maxwell Martin today (Tuesday 10 May) launched a new limited edition beer brewed for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend.
• Line of Duty and Motherland actor Anna Maxwell Martin poured the first pint of Thank Brew along with lead Thank Brew brewer Fergus Fitzpatrick at The Old Queen’s Head pub in North London.
• All profits will go towards supporting Ukrainian refugees arriving in the UK and
community focused groups across the country.
• Thirty five breweries – including iconic brands like Adnams, St Austell and Budweiser Brewing Group, the UK arm of AB InBev – and up to 5,000 pubs – including Punch and Greene King – signed up to brew and serve the beer and host events.
• Every UK pub, bar, licensed premises and brewery in Britain is invited to take part – a perfect opportunity to say their own big thank you to Her Majesty the Queen and to their local customers and communities.
• Backed by leading trade bodies UKHospitality, the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA), the British Institute of InnKeeping (BII) and the BFBi – the trade body representing the entire supply chain into the beverage industry
• Big weekend expected with record numbers expected to host Thank You Day events, over an extended weekend with extended licensing hours for pubs
• Alcohol free Jubilee IPA from Big Drop already on sale to public, pubs and licensed premises across Britain.

Launching Thank Brew, Anna said: “This special Thank Brew beer gives us all the chance to do good whilst having a good time on Thank You Day and as we celebrate the Platinum Jubilee.”

“All profits go towards Ukrainian refugees arriving in the UK and community groups across the country, so you can rest assured that every sip is all in a good cause.”

“Thank You Day is a day for us all to come together – and for millions of us across the UK the very best place to do that is down the local. At their best, pubs can sit at the very heart of our lives, creating friendships and strengthening communities. So it’s absolutely brilliant to see the whole industry getting involved to create a campaign everyone can get behind – from the pubs to the brewers to the alcohol free beers – as we get ready for the big jubilee weekend.”

“So on Thank You Day this year – Sunday 5 June – why not join in with Britain’s biggest ever thank you party and raise a glass of Thank Brew to the people you’d like to thank whether that’s the Queen for her lifetime of service, or someone closer to home.”

100 percent of the profits from Thank Brew sales will go to help build stronger communities through eden project communities – which runs The Big Lunch, and /together Coalition which runs Thank You Day, and to support Ukrainian refugees arriving in the the UK to live with families in communities across Britain through the UK government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme through Reset Communities and Refugees.

Kate Brown, CEO of Reset Communities and Refugees said: “This campaign, The Big Jubilee Lunch and Thank You Day are yet more examples of the warmth and generosity of the British public.”

“We are seeing this time and time again in the extraordinary response to the Ukrainian crisis. With more than 200,000 people signed up to offer their homes under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, and hundreds of thousands more offering support, we are in a position to help more refugees than ever before.”

Brendan Cox, Co- Founder of the Together Coalition and Thank You Day, said: “Thank You Day this year is all about neighbours connecting with each other, to say thank you to HM The Queen and to each other. Where better to come together than at your local pub?”

“And with a non-alcoholic version of Thank Brew on offer, everyone will have the chance to toast HM The Queen and their local community.”

Peter Stewart of The Eden Project, who are behind The Big Lunch, described this year’s celebrations, which include The Big Jubilee Lunch, as “a once in a lifetime event.”

“This unique Big Jubilee Lunch will be the biggest ever. We’re expecting millions of people across the UK to come together in communities to share friendship, food, fun and get to know one another a little better – and now we can share a Thank Brew beer too.”

With pubs and bars across the country expected to have one of their biggest weekend’s of the year on the Bank Holiday weekend, 35 breweries and counting have already joined forces to brew Thank Brew, a new limited edition beer.

Organisers The Good Beer Co hope to have 70 brewers onboard by the time of the Jubilee, all serving the beer in their pubs and bars, with all profits going to charity.

The special edition beer is inspired by Thank You Day on the 5th of June and the Jubilee itself – and is aimed at encouraging people to join in the biggest Thank You party for Her Majesty The Queen and for everyone else we want to thank after a tough couple of years.

It aims to raise tens of thousands of pounds for good causes through sales of the beer and donations.

The limited edition ales are being crafted by a host of leading brewers –including iconic names like St Austell and Theaksons – all to a recipe devised by Adnams Production Director Fergus Fitzpatrick.

As Thank Brew’s ‘Chief Brewer’ Fergus has crafted an easy-drinking 3.5% ABV pale ale, using a classic British ale yeast. And he’s teamed up with Big Drop to oversee the creation of a unique 0.5% ‘Jubilee IPA’ version, brewed and bottled exclusively by the alcohol-free specialist.

Members of the public can now place orders in the Big Drop shopfor the 0.5% ABV Thank Brew Jubile IPA which is being bottled now for delivery in mid May. The tasty brew is a refreshingly fruity IPA with a moreish bitter twist on the tongue that’s perfect for the Jubilee weekend.

The link to order is: https://shop.bigdropbrew.com/products/thank-brew

And pubs and licensed premises or Thank You Day event organisers keen to serve the celebratory alcohol free brew can order for wholesale fulfilment now via: https://www.eebriatrade.com/producer/show/693?r=bigdropbrewing

Organisers The Good Beer Co are now inviting every brewer, pub, or licensee who wants to brew or serve the beers, get involved or host a Thank You Day event to sign up now using the Good Beer Co. website: www.thegoodbeerco.co.uk/thankbrew.

And members of the public who want to know which pubs and breweries near them are brewing and serving Thank Brew can find out on The Good Beer Co website too. Campaign supporters the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) have created a handy map of pubs and breweries serving the special brew and hosting events this Jubilee weekend.

Lead Thank Brew brewer Adnams is supporting The Good Beer Co to recruit breweries and pubs across Britain to brew and serve Thank Brew and – like all participating breweries – will be serving Thank Brew in its own managed pubs.

Other participating breweries and pub chains include iconic names like St Austell, Theakstons, ABInBev (Budweiser Brewing Group), Greene King and Punch Pubs Co. as well as a host of smaller community based breweries and pubs across the nation.

Fergus Fitzgerald and The Good Beer Co previously created the Great Get Together Pale Ale for the Jo Cox Foundation and their Great Get Together UK events.

He’s excited to be helping to build another beer industry collaboration for a good cause, saying: “We want as many breweries as possible to get involved in Thank Brew, that’s why we haven’t made it too prescriptive with the recipe and approach.”

“The three main requirements are it should be 3.5% abv, it should be a Pale Ale and it should be delicious and easy drinking. Outside of that we encourage breweries to put their own stamp on it. And it can be cask, keg, bottle or can.”

“Adnams will be proud to serve Thank Brew in our managed pubs on the Jubilee Weekend and I look forward to raising a glass of Thank Brew at my local to mark the occasion.”

Introducing the alcohol free Thank Brew, Founder and CEO of Big Drop Rob Fink said: “The Jubilee Weekend is already jam-packed with celebrations and we can’t wait to get the party started.”

“If you and your friends want to be there at the end too, then make sure you’re never far away from a Thank Brew 0.5% ABV.”

St Austell will be brewing a special edition of the 3.5% Thank Brew and serving it at their managed pubs across Cornwall, Devon and Dorset.

Georgina Young, Brewing Director, St Austell Brewery said: “We’re excited to be serving Thank Brew (3.5% abv) in our pubs, for beer lovers celebrating the Platinum Jubilee throughout the Bank Holiday weekend.”

“It’s great to be collaborating with brewers across the beer industry and coming together to raise money for community-focussed organisations across the UK.”

“Not only is this a beer for a great cause, but it tastes great too. Our special limited-edition cask beer is an easy-drinking and balanced pale ale with passionfruit notes. It’s brewed with Sovereign, Target, Olicana, and Harlequin – hop varieties spanning the Queen’s 70-year reign. Refreshing, sessionable, and jam packed with fruity flavours, we can’t wait to raise a toast with a pint or two next month.”

Theakstons are brewing a special edition of the celebratory brew and serving it at local pubs in Yorkshire and beyond. Mark Slater, Head Brewer said: “We’re very proud to be part of Thank Brew and looking forward to serving our own special take on Fergus’s recipe on the Jubilee weekend to help support three fantastic causes, the beer and brewing industry and our locals at the same time.”

The team at Budweiser Brewing Group are supporting Thank Brew with a special edition of the 3.5% ale brewed by apprentices at the Group’s Innovation and Technology Centre based in Nottingham University.

Brian Perkins, President, Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I said: We are delighted to join with Industry colleagues to commemorate Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee and bring the Nation together in what will be a wonderfully British celebration.”

“Our Innovation and Technology Centre in Nottingham University was set up to give people from local communities the resources and training to make the beers of the future. Thank Brew is a fantastic opportunity for the apprentices and wider team to support charities which are close to our hearts whilst developing their skills.”

Smaller local community breweries and pubs are also getting involved, like award winning Lincoln Green Brewing Company and their local pubs The Robin Hood (And) Little John, The Sir John Borlase, The Station Hotel, The Brickyard and The Railway.

Anthony Hughes, Founder of Lincoln Green Brewing Company said: “We’ll be kicking off the brew very soon so there’s still plenty of time for other local breweries to get involved.”

‘We’re looking forward to serving our own special version of Thank Brew and raising a toast to the Queen and our locals at our five popular community pubs.”

Thank Brew is also supported by the UK’s largest pub retailer and brewer, Greene King. Nick Mackenzie, Chief Executive, said: “The Jubilee is a chance to get together as a community and celebrate. It’s the kind of occasion the pub was made for. I hope everyone gets the chance to raise a glass of Thank Brew to the Queen and to each other on this big weekend!”

And award winning pub company .Punch Pubs Co will be supporting Thank You Day and Thank Brew and hosting a #CheersForVolunteers at 5pm on Sunday 5th June at their pubs in England, Scotland and Wales.

James Grugeon, Founder of The Good Beer Co, said he was excited to see the early momentum building behind Thank Brew: “We’ve already recruited a big coalition of breweries, pub groups and industry bodies keen to back Thank Brew.”

“Now we’re busy signing up as many new breweries, pubs and licensed premises as we can, so that everyone in the UK can come together and celebrate with a Thank Brew at their local, help us raise funds for three very important causes and support their local pubs and breweries too.”

“With orders now open, we’re inviting pubs and members of the public to head to our website to secure some of our special edition beers and find out which local pubs and breweries are brewing and selling Thank Brew this big Jubilee Weekend.”

Industry leader Christian Barden (former Kegstar Global CEO and executive to industry SMEs such as Sprout, BrewBroker, and Pint Please) has also joined The Good Beer Co team to help unite Britain’s beer and hospitality industry behind the Thank Brew campaign.

He said: “This is going to be a great weekend for the beer and hospitality industry and for their local communities.”

Thank Brew is being supported by UKHospitality, the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA),the British Institute of InnKeeping (BII) and the BFBi – the trade body representing the entire supply chain into the beverage industry.

Kate Nicholls OBE, CEO of UKHospitality, said: “The nation’s hospitality venues will be looking forward to a bumper weekend of celebrations for Her Majesty’s historic Jubilee, and it’s great that there will be a dedicated brew to mark the occasion. Our sector has suffered dreadfully over the past two years, so it will be wonderful to raise a glass to the Queen and each other, and look to happier times.”

Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of the British Beer & Pub Association said: “Beer is Britain’s drink of choice, so what better way to celebrate Her Majesty’s Jubilee than with a toast of one that’s been specially brewed for the occasion? The Jubilee will be a time for celebration and community, and pubs play a part in both. That’s why we’re really pleased to be a partner in the Thank Brew initiative and are looking forward to seeing how pubs and brewers across the country lead celebrations across the joyous long weekend.”

Tom Stainer, Chief Executive of CAMRA said: “Bank Holidays offer a real boost for the beer and pub trade and provide a unique opportunity for communities to come together and socialise – something that has been sorely missed in recent years. We hope everyone will take advantage of the opportunity to raise a glass of Thank Brew to the first summer without restrictions!”

Steven Alton, CEO of the British Institute of InnKeeping said: “The team at the BII are passionate about doing all we can to keep great pubs at the heart of every community. The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee is a fantastic opportunity for everyone to come together at the heart of our communities in the pub and raise a glass of what makes our pubs so special, a great British beer.”

“The Thank Brew initiative is a fantastic example of why our pubs matter. It brings together great beer and local communities to celebrate in the pub and once again raise money for some outstanding causes.”

James Calder, Chief Executive of the Society of Independent Breweries, said: “Independent breweries across the UK will be brewing a Thank Brew beer in support of three fantastic causes rooted in their local communities, and to help celebrate HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. SIBA are delighted to be supporting the initiative and would encourage beer drinkers to keep an eye out for local Thank Brews over the Jubilee weekend.”

Ruth Evans MBE, CEO at the BFBi (the trade association representing the entire supply chain into the beverage industry), said: “We feel privileged to support the Thank Brew initiative, on behalf of BFBi and the supply chain businesses supporting the brewing, beverage and hospitality industry. A time to celebrate HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and a return to a concept iconic to the UK – the British pub.“

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

About The Big Jubilee Lunch

Eden Project Communities, the team behind The Big Lunch, are inviting communities across the UK to come together as part of official celebrations for HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Everyone in the UK is being invited to host a Big Lunch – in their streets, gardens and neighbourhoods – to have fun and get to know one another a little better, during the extended bank holiday weekend of June 2nd to 5th. A once-in-a-lifetime event, this unique Big Lunch will be the biggest ever – with millions of people across the UK expected to share friendship, food and fun.

edenprojectcommunities.com/the-big-jubilee-lunch

About Thank You Day

Thank You Day is being held this year on Sunday the 5th of June, to coincide with the Platinum Jubilee celebrations. It’s backed by everyone from the FA to the NHS, Facebook, itv and the Sun and is about building a day when neighbours reconnect, to say thank you to HM The Queen and to each other.

Thankyouday.org.uk

About Reset Communities and Refugees

Reset Communities and Refugees, a UK registered charity, leads community sponsorship in the UK, connecting refugees with over 300 community groups since 2018. Reset is supporting Ukrainian refugees arriving in the UK to live with families in communities across Britain, through the UK Government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme.

Resetuk.org

About The Good Beer Co

The Good Beer Co is a purpose-led beer company that works with breweries and the beer industry in the UK and Australia, to create beers and campaigns that raise funds and support for good causes. The Good Beer Co worked with the /together Coalition and the Royal Voluntary Service to coordinate industry support for Cheers for Volunteers on National Thank You Day 2021; and worked on the Great Get Together Pale Ale collaboration brew for the Jo Cox Foundation, as part of their nationwide programme of Great Get Together events.

thegoodbeerco.co.uk/thankbrew

About Fergus Fitzgerald

Fergus Fitzgerald is acting as an Advisor to The Good Beer Co, and Chief Brewer for Thank Brew collaboration beer. In his day job, he is Production Director and former Head Brewer at Adnams. A former senior brewer at Fullers, Fergus also worked with The Good Beer Co to create and brew the Great Get Together Pale Ale for the Jo Cox Foundation – a collaboration of 16 breweries from across the UK to raise funds and support for the Great Get Together.

Adnams.co.uk

About Big Drop

Big Drop was launched in 2016 as the world’s first brewer dedicated to alcohol-free beer and is recognised as the market leader in the rapidly growing AF craft beer sector. It has won over 80 international beer awards, including seven times World’s Best at the World Beer Awards. By contract brewing in batches through a network of brewing partners worldwide, it can produce fresh beer – locally and ethically – with a minimal carbon footprint. It can now be found in over 10,000 venues – including throughout Europe, Australia, Canada and the US. In the UK, Big Drop also has listings with Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Waitrose, Morrisons and Ocado.