In what has become an annual tradition for Aldbrough St John, actors from the Barnard Castle-based Castle Players came to the village’s micro-brewery Mithril Ales recently for a brew-naming ceremony.
The amateur theatre company puts on a major production of a Shakespeare play every year in the grounds of the Bowes Museum and Peter Fenwick, of Mithril Ales, produces a special brew for the occasion.
For several years now it has been named by the winners of a competition on a theme from the play.
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This year’s play is Macbeth but the judging panel were looking for something more original than the obvious Witches’ Brew and settled on Damned Spot. suggested by Chris and Mike Powell. of Stanhope. in Weardale.
Part of the prize is to visit the brewery, add the hops and, if wished, sample a brew made earlier.
Peter Fenwick brews to a different recipe every week at Mithil Ales and the hops were added to this special mix in the brewery by Chris Powell watched by husband, Mike, and members of the cast Janie Caldbeck (Lady Macbeth), Ian Kirkbride (Duncan) and Adele Tyler (a witch) plus director Laurence Sach.
Mr Fenwick describes this brew as “a deep golden, hoppy flavoured beer.”
It will be released at the Old Well pub in Barnard Castle on Saturday.
The production of ‘the Scottish play’ runs from Tuesday, July 10 to Saturday, July 14, with performances starting at 7.30pm.
