Snapped: Arkell's Brewery Launch Centenary Beer

As part of the WW1 100th anniversary this year, Arkell’s Brewery is brewing a brand new commemorative beer for the Royal British Legion.

The beer will be called “Old Contemptible” and will use an old recipe using British ingredients. The brewery is donating £10 per cask sold to the poppy appeal.

The beer was officially launched on Wednesday October 22 at Arkells Brewery, Kingsdown with members of The Royal British Legion.

The name, ‘Old Contemptibles’ was self-adopted by British troops belonging to the regular army in 1914, it was supposedly derived from a comment made by the German Kaiser, Wilhelm II. 

Brewery chairman, James Arkell, said: “To mark this important centenary we have brewed a Mild ale, a style of beer that would have been drunk by my grandfather and the soldiers in 1914, and is one of England’s most traditional beers.”

Head brewer Alex Arkell, said: “I have used only English ingredients with a black colour and warm roasted and sweet tones coming from the chocolate malt with a light hop aroma to compliment it. At 4.0% this is considered strong for a mild, however having looked through our records and done some research we noticed that before WWI our mild was stronger.