Kirkby Lonsdale Brewery has raised more than £5,000 from 51,000 pints poured, in an initiative with the Pennine Way National Trail.
Last year, the brewery was specially selected as one of the stockists of the special ale, Pennine Ambler, which was launched in a joint initiative alongside two other breweries on the trail.
From each pint or bottle sold, a financial contribution is made towards the maintenance of the 268 mile national trail, which runs from Edale to Kirk Yetholm.
Kirkby Lonsdale Brewery co-owner, Stuart Taylor, said: “The Pennine Ambler has been really popular with our customers. So popular that we’ve sold 51,000 pints of it! It’s great to see how well it has gone down, so we’ll definitely be continuing to sell it.”
To celebrate the fundraising efforts, Stuart and a team from Kirkby Lonsdale Brewery served up pints of Pennine Ambler to thirsty walkers at Malham Cove in the Yorkshire Dales.
Stuart added: “It was really good on the day. We put a barrel in the back of the van, set the pump up and created a mobile bar. Lots of people who were either about to start their walk or finishing it were definitely keen to enjoy a refreshing pint! It was a great way to raise awareness and raise a glass to the fundraising initiative.”
Pennine Ambler, a thirst-quenching amber ale of 4%, was created by Kirkby Lonsdale Brewery and is available along the trail and in surrounding areas, including Manchester, Sheffield, Newcastle, Carlisle and the Scottish Borders.
The Pennine Way trail managers began their search for a brewery partner in February 2017 before joining forces with The Nook Brewhouse, Holmfirth, and Hadrian and Border Brewery, in Tyneside, for the summer launch which took place in June.
Nick Osborne, Pennine national trails partnership manager, said: “The money raised since the beer was launched in June 2017 is enough to replace more than 10 gates, install around 20 finger posts or make 450m of boggy ground safe and firm to walk on. It has been great working with Stuart, he has been very enthusiastic about the project – and the beer tastes great – so everyone tells me!”
Nick added: “There seems to be a connection between walking and beer – resting in a nice warm pub after a winter walk with a refreshing pint. For the last 50 years people have been embarking on the 268 mile Pennine Way along the spine of England, from Edale in Derbyshire to Kirk Yetholm in the Scottish Borders; where Alfred Wainwright notoriously left money behind the bar of the Border Hotel so that anyone who had walked the length of the trail could be rewarded with a free pint!”
