Oakham Ales, in Peterborough, will celebrate its 30th anniversary tomorrow by brewing a celebratory batch of its classic bitter, JHB.
The first recipe Oakham Ales created, JHB had humble beginnings when brewed by John Wood in Rutland on 13th September, 1993.
John had been home brewing for more than 20 years when early retirement gave him the chance to brew commercially. He thought that the UK market would be receptive to US-hopped golden ales, but was also influenced by a shortage of UK Goldings and Fuggles at the time.
He used Mount Hood as the basis for JHB, teamed up with a yeast from the Home Brewery, in Nottingham, which gave him the flavour he was looking for. The brewery still uses the same strain today.
Since that first brew of JHB, Oakham Ales has gone on create some 93 million pints and around 275 different beers.
JHB is widely acknowledged to be a hugely significant beer, released at an influential point in the development of UK craft brewing. It went on to win Champion Beer of Britain in 2001, and was Oakham Ales’ best-selling beer for 21 years.
The beer is named after Sir Jeffrey Hudson, an adventurer and courtier of Charles I, who was born in Oakham in 1619.
Oakham Ales soon outgrew its original home in Rutland and moved to Peterborough in 1998. A 35-barrel plant was installed at Westgate, forming the centrepiece of the new Brewery Tap pub.
A further upgrade to the Woodston area of Peterborough was necessary in 2006, thanks to the increased demand that came from winning Champion Beer of Britain. Short-run brewing continued at the Westgate site on a six-barrel kit, although technical issues have restricted brewing there over the last few years. As part of its 30th anniversary celebrations, the brewery plans to change that.
