HRH The Princess Royal was the ‘toast’ of the town when she visited *Ilkley Brewery* on Tuesday 3 April 2012.
Flag waving fans fanned the streets to welcome Her Royal Highness to this iconic West Yorkshire spa town where she made Ilkley Brewery her first port of call, a business she personally selected to visit as part of her nationwide tour to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
During her visit to the brewery, where she was welcomed by, among many others, the company’s three directors, Stewart Ross, Chris Ives and Richard Shelton, the Princess Royal officially launched a new ale, ‘Ilkley Jubilee’, created especially to commemorate the diamond year.
Ilkley Jubilee is a diamond pale 4.5% session beer brewed using English malt and commonwealth hops: a true celebration of majesty.
“This was a huge honour for the brewery and for the town and we are tremendously proud to be part of the Royal celebrations. The Princess’s visit has been eagerly and enthusiastically awaited and it was particularly rewarding for all of us here at the brewery to be chosen specifically and personally for this occasion,” commented Richard Shelton, one of Ilkley Brewery’s directors, after the event.
After a tour of the brewery, where Her Royal Highness was shown the various brewing processes, the Princess Royal had an opportunity to meet guests.
Another highlight of the visit was when Her Royal Highness unveiled a commemorative plaque to celebrate the installation of Ilkley Brewery’s sixth fermentation vessel. The new fermentation vessel will allow the brewery to increase the number of pints it makes each week from 33,000 to 40,000.
To find out more about Ilkley Brewery, visit: www.ilkleybrewery.co.uk or to read the brewery’s blog, go to: “www.ilkleybreweryblog.blogspot.com”:http://www.ilkleybreweryblog.blogspot.com/