Mayor Pulls First City Pint

Okell’s has helped Douglas celebrate the island’s capital new city status.

Mayor Janet Thommeny attended the launch event and pulled the first pint of the new ‘Douglas City Ale’.

Mrs Thommeny said: ‘We were incredibly proud to be granted City Status earlier this year, and the gesture by the Brewery in acknowledging and celebrating the honour in this way is truly appreciated. Thanks again to everyone at Heron and Brearley for producing a commemorative ale and, dare I say, to cask in the glory of the accolade.

‘Our City has a proud brewing tradition, and hopefully islanders and visitors will raise a glass of Douglas City Ale to sample the civic pride we all feel.’

The celebratory ale is 5% abv and is available in a selection of pubs across the island. The launch of the new ale was to coincide with the letters patent being delivered but they have been delayed.

Okell’s MD Ollie Neale added: ‘It was an honour to be able to mark such a significant occasion by creating something brand new. Looking back, over the past 172 years Okell’s brewery has supported and celebrated many historic occasions from Queen Elizabeth’s Silver Jubilee ale, named ‘Silver Celebration’ to the ‘Royal Wedding Ale’ in 1981.

‘We find ourselves once again fortunate enough to have been given the opportunity to brew something new and exciting to celebrate this significant moment in Manx history.’