Blenheim Palace is launching its own limited edition signature beer in time for Christmas made with natural mineral water from the Oxfordshire estate.

'Blenheim Palace' Signature IPA has been created by the renowned Hook Norton Brewery using fresh water collected from aquifers beneath the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

To celebrate its arrival the brewery, which is celebrating its 173rd anniversary this year, arranged for it to be delivered to the Palace in a traditional horse-drawn dray.

Head Coachman, Nick Carter said: “We were thrilled to work with Blenheim Palace to help deliver their Signature IPA beer and promote and raise awareness of these fantastic working horses and their very much still relevant role in today's modern world.”

Hook Norton Brewery is one of only three breweries with working delivering shire horses which have remained on site since 1849.

Their passion for the draught horses runs throughout the brewery, with Managing Director, James Clarke being a trustee for The Shire Horse Society.

“We're delighted to have our very own beer created by the award-winning brewers at Hook Norton,” said Blenheim Palace's Head of Retail Judy Bentall.

“The brewery is just 15 miles from the estate and the fact it's been made with natural Blenheim mineral water makes it a truly local beer.

“It's a limited edition which we have launched for Christmas and we're expecting it to prove popular as a festive tipple,” she added.

The beer's specific taste and flavour was devised by Hook Norton's master brewers in their own craft beer micro-brewery.

Made with a combination of Challenger, Admiral, and Chinook hops, 'Blenheim Palace' has a golden appearance with floral scents and a light citrus taste.

The beer will be available to buy online as well as in Blenheim's shops and restaurants.

Every year the Blenheim estate produces more than four million bottles of mineral water drawn from a subterranean aquifer 40 metres below the surface of the estate and sells it worldwide.

Blenheim Palace Natural Mineral Water is part of a centuries old tradition which began in the 12th century when King Henry II built a pleasure pool for his mistress Rosamund Clifford on the estate.

The pool was fed by an ancient spring which, legend maintains, has never dried up.

• For more information and to buy the beer online visit shop.blenheimpalace.com 

Issued on behalf of Blenheim. For more information please contact Andrea Lee ALee@blenheimpalace.com or Samantha Vaughan on 07469 129743 or SVaughan@blenheimpalace.com .

Blenheim's Key Goals

Blenheim has three focuses for its core business in the years leading to 2027 that include; to share and protect the historic place for future generations, to enhance the lives of the people of Oxfordshire and to be the lifeblood of the local economy.

There are three core business areas that deliver to achieve these aims; property development, a visitor business and the land management of the 12,000 acres of estate.

Blenheim.org