A new beer, named Joshua Jane, has been created with the help of two Leeds Home Brew competition winners and is the first beer to showcase Ilkley Brewery’s new brand identity
A rich, nut brown Yorkshire ale at 3.7%, Joshua Jane is a traditional Yorkshire bitter made using Amarillo and Columbus hops, both from America, giving it unique Ilkley Brewery hop character. The ‘deceptively different’ ale has been put to the taste test and pairs well with dishes like beef and chorizo casserole and lighter foods like blue cheese and apricots.
Joint winners of the Leeds Home Brew competition, David Bishop and Matt Lovell from Leeds, spent the day with the brew team at Ilkley to help create the new beer which will now join the brewery’s core range.
Initially, Joshua Jane will be sold exclusively at all 15 Market Town Taverns sites in Yorkshire and then on 10 October, it is being launched in Leeds at Friends of Ham. Hereafter it will be available at Craft Beer Co. pubs in London and then nationwide.
What’s in a name?
In keeping with the story behind the spa town’s famous folk song, ‘On Ilkla Moor Baht ‘at’ (‘On Ilkley Moor without a hat’), Ilkley Brewery has named this latest brew after the chap who is believed to be Mary Jane’s suitor. Mary Jane is also the name of Ilkley’s flagship beer which was first brewed in 2009 when the brewery launched.
Speaking about Joshua Jane, Chris Ives, one of Ilkley Brewery’s directors, said: “When the guys from Leeds Home Brew approached us to run a competition with their members, we challenged them with creating an American brown ale-style beer. The quality of brews we judged was immensely high meaning there was no alternative but to choose David and Matt as joint winners.
“We brewed with the winners in early September and we’re thrilled to finally be unveiling this brilliant Yorkshire bitter which is also the ‘poster beer’ for our new brand.”
New-look
Joshua Jane is the first of Ilkley’s beers to showcase the brewery’s new brand. The re-design has been implemented to reflect the brewery’s growing national exposure and it is hoped the fresh new look will give the brand even greater stand-out in a crowded real ale market.
Taking inspiration from the original artwork of its turn of the century predecessor, the Ilkley Brewery and Aerated Water Company, Ilkley Brewery’s new creative combines this heritage with elements of its previous branding to give a recognisable sense of continuity. Each of Ilkley’s beers has also been given its own identity and strap line, creating even more talking points for the customer.
“We hope the new designs capture our customers’ imagination and attention in what is a booming and busy craft beer market,” said Luke Raven, Ilkley Brewery’s media and marketing brewer. “At Ilkley, we have a fabulous brewing heritage which we want to celebrate while at the same time remaining innovative and exciting as a brand and in our brewing.”
Ilkley Brewery’s new creative has been produced by Leeds-based Danny Pig Designs.
To find out more about Ilkley Brewery, visit www.ilkleybrewery.co.uk, read the brewery’s blog www.ilkleybreweryblog.
ENDS
Images attached (high resolution versions available on request):
– Luke Raven from Ilkley Brewery at the launch of their latest beer, Joshua Jane. Luke is pictured with a celebratory Joshua Jane meat pie specially made by Lishman’s of Ilkley butchers
– New pump clip artwork: Joshua Jane, Stout Mary and Ilkley Black
Media contact:
For further media information, please contact Katy Barraclough, Conway PR, on 07813 094945 / 01943 430257 or email katy@conwaypr.co.uk
About Ilkley Brewery
The Ilkley Brewery Co. Ltd. was founded in January 2009 by Chris Ives and Stewart Ross.
The idea behind the brewery came from a desire to re-establish brewing in the spa town of Ilkley following the closure of the original Ilkley Brewery and Aerated Water Company in 1920 which was taken over by Hammond’s Bradford Brewery Co. in 1923. With an initial investment of £70,000, Chris and Stewart bought an eight barrel brew plant in spring 2009 and moved into their first premises at Lencia Trading Estate, East Parade, Ilkley where they had the capacity to brew 4,600 pints a week.
In May 2009, The Ilkley Brewery made its first brew, Olicana Gold, and secured its first two permanent pumps. In late spring 2009, Ilkley Best and Ilkley Original joined the re-named Ilkley Gold in the company’s stable of beers and these were quickly followed by the famous Mary Jane.
Autumn 2009 saw bottles of Ilkley Best go on sale in Yorkshire Asda stores.
A string of awards followed with a gold medal for Mary Jane at the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) northern region competition in November 2009 with it taking bronze nationally in February 2010.
In February 2010, Ilkley Black was launched at the Bradford Beer Festival where it won gold for best mild. Further gold medals for Mary Jane were won at Ilkley, Horsforth, Guiseley and Leyburn beer festivals.
In April 2010, Richard Shelton joined the company as a director alongside Chris and Stewart.
Spring 2010 saw bottles of Mary Jane and Ilkley Best go on sale in Booths supermarkets and later in the year, Mary Jane and Ilkley Black also joined Ilkley Best on sale in Asda stores.
The summer of 2010 saw Mary Jane go on sale at the House of Commons’ Strangers Bar.
Stout Mary, an oatmeal stout, was launched in autumn 2010.
Ilkley Pale, Ilkley Black and Lotus IPA all scooped bronze medals at the SIBA northern region competition in November 2010.
In January 2011, Chris, Stewart and Richard secured a debt and equity package from Glentrool Capital Partners LLP, who also provide corporate support to help grow the company. This enabled Ilkley Brewery to move from its premises on East Parade to a new 2,600 square foot brewery on Ashlands Road, Ilkley. A new 20 barrel brewing plant was installed allowing the brewery to produce 23,000 pints a week.
In October 2011, a new 30 barrel fermenter was acquired, tasking production to over 32,000 pints a week. At the same time, Stout Mary scooped a silver medal at the SIBA northern region competition 2011.
In November 2011, a range of three craft keg beers were launched called MJ Artisan Ales: MJ Pale, MJ Summit and MJ Fortis. MJ Pale won a national gold medal in the SIBA Craft Beer in Keg contest in February 2012. The craft-kegged beers now command over 50 permanent pumps.
April 2012 saw the launch of the Origins range, showcasing the best in beer styles and brewing. Medina and Siberia were both collaboration brews with renowned beer writers, and The Chief has since followed, to much critical acclaim. Siberia was selected for the Great British Beer Festival 2012.
In June 2012, Ilkley Brewery was crowned the nation’s most promising company, winning the Government backed Local Business Accelerators campaign.
As of August 2012, bottles of Mary Jane, Ilkley Best, Ilkley Black and Ilkley Pale are available in Morrisons, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Booths supermarkets across the north of England, as well as being stocked by Harvey Nichols stores and restaurants nationally.
In September 2012 both Mary Jane and Lotus IPA were awarded two gold stars each by the Guild of Fine Food, in the annual Great Taste Awards.
Katy Barraclough MCIPR
Conway PR
M: 07813 094945
T: 01943 430257
Twitter: @conwaypr
6 Ash Grove
Ilkley
West Yorkshire
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