Grainstore Brewery has created a one-off beer to commemorate the 100 years since the armistice that ended the First World War.

Grainstore First and LastNamed after the first and last soldiers that died in the Great War, First & Last will be served at the Grainstore Brewery Tap, on Station Approach, Oakham, throughout November, with 5p from every pint sold going towards Rutland County Council’s Tommies statue project.

The council aims to raise £750 to purchase a six-foot statue as part of the Royal British Legion’s There But Not There campaign. The brewery tap also hosts the Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Club every month.

Grainstore director, Peter Atkinson, said: “We work closely with the Armed Forces and veterans in Rutland and wanted to create something to mark 100 years since the end of the First World War.

“The beer is named First & Last to commemorate Private John Parr, who was killed 17 days after Britain declared war, and Private George Ellison, who died 90 minutes before the Armistice of 1918.

“Coincidentally, their graves sit opposite each other in the St Symphorien military cemetery, just south-east of Mons in Belgium, which my business partner William visited recently to pay his respects.”

 

Mix of English hops

 

The beer is 4.3% ABV and red in colour, created using a mix of English hops and blended using pale ale, crystal and brown malts.

It will be available behind the bar at the Grainstore Brewery Tap and from Grainstore Brewery stockists across the Midlands throughout November, and 5p from every pint or £3.50 from every firkin sold will go towards the Tommies project.

Peter added: “When we learned of the Council’s Tommy statue project we knew that the sale of the beer would be the perfect opportunity to contribute towards a worthy project that will benefit the community for years to come.”

 

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