Two Yorkshire breweries join forces to create a particularly Peculier collaboration

T&R Theakston and Rooster's Brewing Co. have come together for a special collaboration to create Peculier Assassin — a gluten free, bold new beer that fuses the legendary character of Old Peculier with the hop-charged attitude of Baby-Faced Assassin.

Launching at the end of May in cask, keg and can, the limited-edition 5.4% ABV release will debut at Theakston's flagship pub, The Black Bull In Paradise and Rooster's Taproom in Harrogate before rolling out to pubs, bars and retailers across the UK.

Peculier Assassin is what happens when two distinctive Yorkshire beers collide. Rich, dark and fruit-laden Old Peculier meets the tropical punch and resinous hop hit of Baby-Faced Assassin to create something entirely new — a smooth, deep ruby-brown beer layered with roasted malt sweetness, juicy citrus and pine notes, balanced by vibrant bitterness and a long, effortlessly drinkable finish.

The collaboration brings together two proudly independent Yorkshire breweries, united by a shared passion for characterful beer, innovation and doing things their own way.

Old Peculier is the flagship beer of T&R Theakston and one of the most distinctive strong ales in British brewing. Dark, ruby red in colour, it is instantly recognisable for its deep dark cherry fruit character, soft banana esters and rich malt backbone, layered with gentle roasted complexity.

Its name is taken from the ancient ecclesiastical Court of the Peculier, a rare form of church jurisdiction that reflects the beer's own independent Yorkshire spirit and long-standing sense of character.

Often referred to simply as “The Legend”, Old Peculier has built a devoted following worldwide, prized for its full-bodied depth, smooth richness and unmistakable dark fruit character derived from its unique fermentation profile. It remains a defining beer in T&R Theakston's brewing heritage and a benchmark for classic strong ales.

Baby-Faced Assassin, a 100% Citra hopped American-style IPA was initially conceived as a 25-litre batch homebrew recipe before forming part of the Rooster's core range in 2013. First canned in 2014, the beer has since won countless awards over the past decade at a host of competitions and beer festivals both across the UK and on the international stage.

The connection between the breweries stretches back decades, with Rooster's Chairman Ian Fozard involved in the 1980s CAMRA campaign that supported Theakston's return to independent ownership. Years later, the two Yorkshire breweries have come together for a collaboration that blends Theakston's renowned cask ale heritage with Rooster's pioneering use of American hops.

The beer has been jointly developed by Theakston Head Brewer Mark Slater and Rooster's Head Brewer Oliver Fozard, coming together to share expertise and create a truly unique collaboration.

Commenting on the collaboration, Oliver Fozard said:

“Mark and I have known each other within the industry for over ten years, so it's been great fun to work with him on this project. From our initial meetings there was only one beer we were both keen to explore, so I'm delighted with how both breweries have come together to create Peculier Assassin.”

Mark Slater, Head Brewer at T&R Theakston, said:

“Working with Oliver on Peculier Assassin has been a really enjoyable process. We both came to the table with a clear idea of what we wanted to achieve — bringing together the richness and depth of Old Peculier with the bright, modern hop character Rooster's are known for. It's been a genuine collaboration throughout, and I'm really pleased with how the beer has come together — it feels balanced, distinctive and full of character.”

Simon Theakston, Chairman of T&R Theakston, said: “We're proud to bring together our cask brewing heritage and expertise with Rooster's pioneering use of American hops. The combined brewing skills of Mark and Oliver ensure this collaboration is a real success — and a toast to independent breweries born and bred here in God's own county.”

Ian Fozard, Chairman of Rooster's Brewing Company, added: “Both breweries have always done things their own way, so this collaboration felt incredibly natural from the outset. The result is an exciting, bold and intriguing beer that's been enormous fun to brew.”

Theakston has brewed the cask version of the beer, while Rooster's has produced the keg and can releases. In keeping with all the beers in Rooster's Assassin range, the beer is gluten free.

Peculier Assassin will be available nationwide for a limited period from the end of May in cask, keg and can formats.

For stock enquiries, contact your usual Theakston or Rooster's sales representative, or email orders@theakston.com or orders@roosters.co.uk.

About Theakston Brewery

Theakston Brewery of Masham is one of the UK's oldest and most highly regarded independent brewers. Founded in 1827, Theakston has been Brewing Legends Since 1827, brewing a range of much-loved traditional and contemporary beers. A proud sixth-generation family brewer, Theakston remains one of the largest independent breweries under family control in the UK.

At the heart of its brewing heritage is the iconic Theakston Old Peculier, internationally acclaimed as one of the great British ales. The Theakston portfolio includes a combination of cask and keg beers, with ten permanently available:

• Theakston Best – the quintessential English session ale

• Theakston Old Peculier – the Legend

• Theakston Peculier IPA – a widely acclaimed hop-forward IPA

• Theakston XB – Masham's best-kept secret

• Theakston Lightfoot – a gluten-free cask ale

• Theakston Quencher – a new low-ABV cask ale

• Theakston Barista Stout – a coffee connoisseur's favourite

• Theakston Pale Ale – a Mid-Atlantic-style New England Pale

• Theakston Dark Mild – the only nationally available Mild in the UK

• Theakston Nowt Peculier – a game-changing 0.0% alcohol-free beer, crafted using the same ingredients and methods as Old Peculier, with innovative reverse osmosis filtration to retain its rich, dark, and fruity character.

This core range is complemented by a selection of well-established seasonal ales.

Theakston Brewery has a long tradition of supporting the Great British Pub and the communities it serves, with a strong commitment to quality, brewing excellence, and heritage. Visitors can experience this firsthand at The Black Bull in Paradise, the Theakston Brewery Visitor Centre in Masham, open year-round.

For more information, visit www.theakstons.co.uk or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Tik-Tok and LinkedIn.

About Rooster's Brewery

For further information, please contact Tom Fozard on tom@roosters.co.uk.

Rooster's Brewing Co. www.roosters.co.uk | @RoostersBrewCo (Facebook and Instagram)

Notes to Editors

Baby-Faced Assassin is Rooster's Brewing Co.'s flagship IPA and is available in cask, keg and can. The beer is currently stocked nationally by several supermarkets and is available to the on trade nationally via various routes to market.

Based in Harrogate, Rooster's has always been an independent, family-run brewery, focussed on creating quality new world pale ales, with an emphasis on flavour and aroma. It was established in 1993 by the pioneering brewer Sean Franklin, who developed a new style of beer that had, up to that point, never been tried in the UK before. At a time when most breweries were taking flavour out, Sean was trying to put more in, using imported flavourful hops from the west coast of America.

His pioneering and innovative approach began to turn heads, with Rooster's flavour-packed beers standing out in a sea of brown beer - with its flagship pale ale, Yankee, leading the way. The awards began to pour in, with Rooster's beers winning gold medals at the biggest and most renowned international and national beer awards.

Having won pretty much everything there was to win, in 2011 Sean decided to retire and chose to sell the brewery to Ian Fozard and his sons, Tom and Oliver, in a move that ensured Rooster's would remain a family-owned brewery.

Ian has had an affinity with beer for over forty years, having been an active member of CAMRA since the 1970s and the founder of Market Town Taverns, which grew into a portfolio of 15 bars and pubs across Yorkshire.

Oliver, who has been brewing professionally since 2000, became the head brewer at Rooster's in 2011 and was awarded Brewer of the Year in December 2020 by the British Guild of Beer Writers.

As an avid homebrewer before joining Rooster's, Baby-Faced Assassin was initially conceived as a 25-litre batch of homebrew in Tom's house in Leeds in early 2011. The recipe for the 100% Citra hopped IPA later evolved to become commercially viable and formed part of the brewery's first line-up of cans when Rooster's became one of the first breweries to invest in its own canning line in 2014. The beer has since won countless awards over the past decade at a host of competitions and beer festivals across the UK and on the international stage.

Rooster's upscaled its production capacity and moved into its current home on Hornbeam Park in the south of Harrogate in 2019, opening an onsite Taproom at the same time. The Taproom, complete with a large beer garden and private events bar upstairs, serves 16 fresh Rooster's beers, all brewed a stone's throw from the bar with the brewery visible to drinkers and separated only via large viewing window.

For more information:

Contact Chloe Briggs or Ben Ormsby at Aberfield Communications on chloe.briggs@aberfield.com / ben.ormsby@aberfield.com, or call 0113 880 0444.

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