A college at Oxford University has created its own beer in anticipation of its 700th birthday,

Staff at Oriel College have created the lightly hopped English Pale Ale known as the ‘697’.

The name denotes the college’s 697th year and allows for the continued development of the beer.

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Oriel has told people to look out ‘698’, 699’ and of course ‘700’ which will be launched in the birthday year.

The beer is being formally launched at a formal today (April 28) and afterwards it will be available to buy in the JCR, MCR and at the college ball.

 

The beer is the brainchild of lodge manager Samuel Henry.

Mr Henry said: “A number of other Colleges use white label beers to create a ‘college beer’ but I wanted to create something special for the birthday which was uniquely Oriel.” 

After coming up with the idea, Mr Henry canvassed help from across the college to develop the beer.

He was accompanied by like-minded appreciators of fine ales Daniel Hurn (Maintenance Manager), James Fletcher (Deputy Director of Development), Oliver Sladen (Financial Controller), Tim Verdon (Domestic Bursar), and Julian Main (Deputy Butler).

Oxford Mail:

The team worked with XT Breweries to select hops that are grown in the UK.

CAMRA enthusiast Oliver Sladen describes the beer as having a “complex and fresh aroma with wheat malt balancing out the flavour with subtle sweetness.”