A unique chance to try Britain’s oldest beer

I am looking for beer in a bid to raise money for charity; not just any beer mind you, I am after something really old and very special as I want to celebrate an absolute legendary Bass beer and benefit a good cause too.

On 16th December 1869 Bass, Ratcliff & Gretton brewed their first commemorative ale to mark the birth of Richard Henry Ratcliff jr. the son of Director Harry Ratcliff. This was called Ratcliff Ale, was to be drunk on the child’s 21st birthday and is accepted as Britain’s oldest beer. 16th December 2019 therefore marks the 150th anniversary of this ale and I would like to mark this occasion by inviting people to try a small sample of Ratcliff Ale. I’d also like to open bottles of the other commemorative beers that Bass produced over the years. To my knowledge this has never been done before.

Ratcliff Ale was Bass & Co.’s No.1 Strong Ale, the company’s premium Barley Wine. The fact that it was brewed at around 10% ABV, corked and sealed with either lead or wax and bottle conditioned means that surviving examples could still be drinkable if they have been stored correctly.

Along with Ratcliff Ale, Bass produced a number of other commemorative beers which are collectively known as Bass Corkers. In 1902 there was King’s Ale, a brew started by King Edward VII, Prince’s Ale was produced in 1929 for the Prince of Wales Edward, in 1977 there was Jubilee Ale, the following year Princess Anne started the mash of Princess Ale and the final Bass Corker came in 1982 to mark the birth of Prince William and is known as either Celebration Ale or slightly confusingly Prince’s Ale.

Imagine being able to taste something that is exactly 150 years old to the day! At the moment this is very much in the planning stage, but I have been in touch with a gentleman called Gus Noble who has kindly donated a bottle of Ratcliff Ale to open. I just need a venue, a charity, a speaker and of course more beer!

The evening will start off with the 1982 Celebration / Prince’s Ale, a mere 37 years old, and then work backwards in time … and this is where I am hoping you can help? Although I have a number of suitable bottles already, I wondered if anyone has any beer that they would like to donate to the cause please? I am especially looking for the 1929 Prince’s Ale, King’s Ale and Ratcliff Ale, because unfortunately there is always the possibility that when a beer is uncorked that it will be spoiled and regrettably it is impossible to tell until it is opened, so to avoid disappointment I’d like to have a few bottles of each, it also means that drinkers would get to enjoy more than just a sip.

I have tried old beer before, a few years ago I sampled the 1875 bottling of Allsopp’s Arctic Ale, which was found in the cellar of 107 Station Street. I have never tasted anything quite like it before or since! At the time it was 137 years old, so to try Ratcliff Ale will even beat that.

Please check the loft, garage, cupboards for Bass Corkers! If you are able to help please contact me on 0795 6075044 or ianjohnwebster@gmail.com via this blog www.thebeertonian.com.