An ale which was shelved because of an abdication has been discovered in a bricked up cellar in Bury St Edmunds.
Coronation Ale was brewed 75 years ago. The bottled beer was created to commemorate Edward VIII’s first year on the British throne. However, Edward abdicated to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson.
The love affair is the subject of Madonna’s recent film ‘W.E.’ and Edward VIII was portrayed in ‘The King’s Speech’ by Guy Pearce.
Coronation Ale was never on sale. It dates from 1936 and may have been left undiscovered if it wasn’t for workmen replacing a floor at Greene King’s brewery. The ale was found in a bricked-up cellar.
It has been tested by Greene King’s head brewer John Bexon. John said: “This really would have been a fantastic beer in its day. It was 12 per cent when it was brewed so is quite strong and has kept really well.”
He added that it has a rich fruit flavour. The veracity of Coronation Ale has been confirmed by beer historians, who consulted records and museum articles.
John said that it was impossible to put a price on the beer. He also hinted that more discoveries could be made.
He commented: “We’ve brewed beer on the same site in Suffolk for over 200 years and there is a network of cellars under the brewery which means there could be more vintage beers just waiting to be re-discovered.”
Other unsold beers discovered by the workmen include one to mark the current queen’s Coronation in June 1953 and Audit Ale which was a barley wine brewed in the 1950’s.
Greene King’s current brews include IPA, Old Speckled Hen, Abbot Ale, Belhaven Best and a range of seasonal ales.
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