It joins the company’s roster of beers inspired by local and global landmarks, with the beer due to be sold at the Robin Hood Beer and Cider Festival at Trent Bridge Cricket Ground
The ruins of Old Trent Bridge can still be seen off the A60 near County Hall(Image: Nottingham Post)
A beer named in honour of the original Trent Bridge river crossing built in the 10th century will make its debut at this year’s Nottingham Beer and Cider Festival, to be held at Trent Bridge Cricket Ground.
The original bridge in medieval times was called Hethbeth and it has now given its name to a mild beer brewed by Bridges Brewing Company based in Pinxton.
It joins the company’s roster of beers inspired by local and global landmarks, including Golden Gate Bridge and Tower Bridge, along with local crossings such as Lady Bay Bridge and the Bennerley Viaduct.
Hethbeth will be one of more than 600 beers available to sample at this year’s festival, which runs from Wednesday, October 7, through to Saturday, October 10.
Admission is free for CAMRA members, while for non-members it will cost £10.
Tom Burwood-Ansell, head brewer at the Bridges Brewing Company, said: “Steve Westby, Nottingham CAMRA chairman, from the Nottingham Festival, asked us if we’d done a Trent Bridge beer yet, but we had an idea in our pocket to focus on the old Trent Bridge.
“The old bridge, and its name, have a bit more romance – and not many people know about its legacy.
“The original bridge was built by Alfred the Great’s son, so there has been a crossing in that position since the days of Edward the Elder.
“It’s really historic, hence why we wanted to do it and why we went with an historic style like a mild.
“We like the fact that we can tie in a load of heritage, whether it’s local, international or even fictional.”
The company has just produced its first seasonal one-off, a Lord of the Rings-inspired beer called Khazad-Dûm, which is a hoppy US Red Ale and the first beer it’s produced inspired by a pop-culture reference.
Mr Burwood-Ansell’s own brewing story began as an enthusiastic home brewer, and resulted in a career change which he continues to relish.
He said: “My in-laws bought me an all-grain kit for brewing at home while I was off work as a stay-at-home dad.
“I’m massively into science and into the creative side of beer, and they do go hand in hand, but I’d never really considered how beer was made until I tried it myself.
“It all just snowballed from there, and when I was ready to go back to work I didn’t want to go back to a normal office job. I’ve just fallen in love with the whole process.”
