October 2014 – Timothy Taylor’s brewery has produced another special brew of Havercake – ABV 4.7% – and for the third year running, 10p from every pint or bottle sold will be donated to ABF, The Soldiers’ Charity.
Havercake was first brewed in 2002 to celebrate 300 years of The Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, now part of The Yorkshire Regiment. It is a robust Yorkshire ale brewed to match the qualities of the soldiers – strength, balance, clarity and a good head’.
The beer takes its name from the ‘Dukes’ who were once known as the ‘The Havercake Lads’. This nickname comes from the oatmeal bread cake which was the staple food of the Yorkshire Pennine towns and villages where the soldiers were recruited. Reputedly, the recruiting sergeant stuck havercakes on his sword when seeking out ‘volunteers’. It seems the promise of regular food, no doubt accompanied by plenty of ale, was too tempting to resist!
Over the last two years, the brewing of this special ale has raised over £14,000 for the ABF, The Soldiers’ Charity and this year, with Tesco stocking it in around 350 stores and a listing in Enterprise Inns, it is hoped to top the £10,000 mark.
Draught Havercake will be available locally in all Timothy Taylor’s pubs and nationally in Enterprise Inns during October. Bottles will be available in selected Tesco stores and can be bought online at www.timothytaylorshop.co.uk
Photo Caption: Members of The 33rd of Foot Re-enactment Society pull the first pint of the 2014 Havercake brew. (Left to Right) John White, John Spencer and Ben Hall.
