'PROOF' that Buckland Abbey is celebrating 50 years of public access was provided by the launching of a commemorative beer at the anniversary recently.
It is an Indian Pale Ale of 4.2 per cent alcohol by volume.
The decision to produce an Indian Pale Ale was taken because it is made from British ingredients. It was also considered safer and more to modern day taste than trying to produce a beer of the Elizabethan era, which was flavoured with herbs rather than hops and would have been 7-8 per cent alcohol — apart from the beer made from re-used ingredients supplied to servants and menial workers, which was only 1-3 per cent.
The celebration beer will be brewed at Points West Brewery at Plymouth College of Further Education and will be available in the abbey refectory.