Brewery racks up listings with 'Tour' beer.
L to R Shawn Dixon, assistant manager, Booths Ilkley; Luke Raven, sales manager, Ilkley Brewery and Jan Osinski, wines and spirits supervisor, Booths
With just weeks to go until the Grand Départ spins into action across Yorkshire, Ilkley Brewery has launched a commemorative beer, named Marie Jaune, which will be sold in 29 Booths supermarkets and in Harvey Nichols stores in Leeds and London.
In honour of the Tour de France’s roots, the West Yorkshire brewery has created Marie Jaune using two French hops, Triskel and Bouclier, as well as a French yeast. The end result is a 4.5% light, refreshing blonde beer which is available in bottle, cask and keg.
Customers to all 29 Booths stores in Yorkshire, Cumbria, Lancashire, Cheshire and the MediaCityUK Manchester outlet, will be able try Marie Jaune from 18 June. Harvey Nichols will be stocking the commemorative beer from week commencing 2 June and it will also be available for diners at Harvey Nichols’ OXO Tower restaurant at London’s South Bank as well as on its website.
As well as Booths and Harvey Nichols, Marie Jaune will also be available in pubs along the entire Yorkshire route: from Leeds in to the Yorkshire Dales and Harrogate and from York through to Cragg Vale and Sheffield.
Marie Jaune bottles
In Ilkley, Marie Jaune will be served at pop-up bars at the Town Centre Race on Tuesday 1 July as well as at The Crescent and Bar t’at, also in Ilkley. Beer and cycle fans will also be able to try Marie Jaune at The Swan and The Fleece in Addingham and at local campsites.
Leaderboard labels
Customers purchasing bottles of Marie Jaune can choose from three different label designs, each representative of the yellow, green and polka dot cycling jerseys worn by Tour de France competitors. The yellow jersey (maillot jaune) being the general leader, the green jersey (maillot vert) attributing the points leader and the polka dot jersey (maillot à pois rouge) signifying the mountain leader.
Speaking about the brewery’s Tour beer, director, Richard Shelton, said: “Marie Jaune has been in the making for quite some time, probably since it was announced that the Grand Départ would be coming to Yorkshire last year. We’re all steadfast cycling fans here at Ilkley Brewery so we were keen to ensure the beer marked the occasion fittingly and that it also honoured the Tour’s French origins.
“Marie Jaune, which plays on the name of our flagship beer, Mary Jane, as well as the Tour de France’s famous yellow jersey, not only celebrates Yorkshire’s role in Grand Départ history but also showcases the county’s brewing heritage and excellence.
“We hope the beer is a welcome addition to fans’ Tour celebrations and that it makes a great souvenir of Ilkley’s involvement in the world’s greatest cycle race.”
Shawn Dixon, assistant manager at Booths in Ilkley, added: “We’ve been long-time supporters of Ilkley Brewery: its core beers, including Joshua Jane and Mary Jane, sell consistently well so we’re looking forward to seeing customers’ response to this special edition Tour de France brew.
“The three label designs are quirky and fun and I think, having sampled Marie Jaune myself, the beer will get people’s Grand Départ parties off to a flying start.”
Marie Jaune retails at £1.99 per 500ml bottle in Booths and at £3.20 per 500ml bottle in Harvey Nichols.
To find out more about Ilkley Brewery, visit: www.ilkleybrewery.co.uk or follow Ilkley Brewery on Twitter @Ilkleybrewery and Facebook www.facebook.com/ilkley.brewery
