Castle Players: We’ve got brews for you...

BREWING has begun for a special ale that will be launched to coincide with a major summer production.

For the sixth year running, Pete Fenwick of Mithril Ales at Aldbrough St John has agreed to brew a new ale especially for The Castle Players’ upcoming show. This year the community drama group will stage Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night in the grounds of The Bowes Museum from July 4 to July 8. Castle Players member Adele Tyler said: “Every year Pete brews a beer especially for our summer production at The Bowes Museum. We also have a competition to see if people can come up with a suitable name.” Having received 60 entries, three judges chose Twelfth Pint as the winning name. Although two people had suggested the idea, the winner Sam Fells was picked from a hat. Mr Fells, of Durham, who works backstage for the Castle Players, said: “I just put the first thing that came to my mind.”

Mr Fells was invited along to the microbrewery last week to add the hops so the brewing process could begin.

The beer will be on sale at pubs across the dale including the Old Well Inn, in Barnard Castle, where it will be officially launched on Saturday, July 1.