Saying ‘Cheers to Beer’ with Coronation Street

I’m late to the party here but Friday just gone was ‘Beer Day Britain’ - a day on which British boozers were encouraged to raise a glass and say ‘Cheers to Beer’ before posting a message and photo on social media with the hashtag #CheersToBeer.

Oh well, any day that ends in ‘y’ is ‘Beer Day’ in my book so here is my #CheersToBeer photo for Tuesday as I look forward to tonight’s hour-long episode of Corrie:

I’m supping a Co-op Golden Ale from my Rovers Return dimpled tankard. I’m also rocking my Stan and Hilda Ogden pinny emblazoned with the classic Stan quote, “Drinking’s a serious business. You gotta keep at it - like training for a football match.” Very true!

I picked the beer up at the Co-op in Croydon but it should also be available in that new branch on Victoria Street in Weatherfield. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get hold of Robinsons’ Co-op IPA as it seems to have been discontinued. I liked that one because the label featured Salford Lads Club which of course sits on the corner of the real life Coronation Street.

I have also been unable to obtain the Coronation Street Premium Ale which was produced for a while by Manchester brewers J.W. Lees. I’ll always regret not having tasted that beer. Did anyone sample it? Was it any good?

There is a solid relationship between Coronation Street and beer. Most of our favourite characters like a pint and almost all episodes feature beer. I mean... can anyone remember an episode that didn't feature beer?!! A few years ago, Flaming Nora posted a very good blog on ‘British Beer Day - Coronation Street style’. You can check it out here.

Since then, the craft beer craze has become bigger and bigger in Britain and Weatherfield has not been left untouched by this phenomenon. Remember when Tim set up a microbrewery in Sally’s conservatory? Here’s a taster to wet your whistle:

Then last year, Newton and Ridley chose the Rovers to launch a new craft beer. The bloke from the brewery tried to get Peter to have a taste of ‘Miscreance’ but Leanne stepped in to save him. She seemed to enjoy it:   

Steve McDonald didn’t like the changes being made at the Rovers though, saying craft beer is “just real ale with more tattoos and fancier beards”. There’s a tattoo parlour on Victoria Street now so I’m surprised there isn’t a craft beer shop or even a BrewDog bar for another brand tie-in.

Why haven’t they done a storyline where Tim gets his home brew behind the bar of the Rovers? I also wonder if the Rovers has expanded its range of low alcohol drinks given its recent teetotal management. There are some great non-alcoholic beers, wines and spirits around now, Peter - not that you'll be landlord for much longer.

Anyway, I dare say there were a few cheers to beers said in Weatherfield last Friday night. In fact, here are a few #CheersToBeer posts that I found on that 'TwitBook' thing...

I've worked up a right thirst with all this beer blogging. I fancy a pint of Miscreance with Leanne followed by a Stallion with Steve and then hitting Sally’s conservatory to down the home brew with Tim… #CheersToBeerWithCorrie!

By Martin Leay, on Twitter @mpleay

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Winners announced in Coronation Street Blog's Corrie ale competitition

Congratulations go to Alison Eden and Glen Battams who are the two lucky winners of a case of Coronation Street ale each! 

In the latest competition here on the Coronation Street Blog we asked the following two questions, and had an enormous response.  The two lucky winners were drawn at random from all those who correctly answered both questions and their prizes will be sent to them direct from the lovely people at J W Lees Brewers in Manchester. 

We asked:
Q1: What year was the Coronation Street Premium ale first brewed?
A: 2009
Q2: What are the two hops used in the production of the Coronation Street beer?
A: Northdown and Golding

Find out more about JW Lees' Coronation Street ale.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to enter the competition - better luck next time!  We have some wonderful competitions coming up in the next few months as we head towards Christmas, so keep your eye on the Coronation Street Blog for some great Corrie prizes.

Last chance to enter! Two cases of Corrie ale up for grabs in our exclusive competition

It's your last chance to enter our exclusive Coronation Street ale competition as it ends at 5pm today, Monday 22nd August. 

If you haven't already entered the competition to win one of two cases of Coronation Street Premium Ale, it's here. 

Good luck - and remember, you must be over 18 years of age to enter and the prize can only be shipped to a UK address.

With thanks to the lovely people at Manchester brewers JW Lees for these wonderful prizes, once agan.

COMPETITION! Win a case of Corrie beer with the Coronation Street Blog

With thanks, once again, to the very lovely people at Manchester brewers JW Lees we have two cases of their Coronation Street Premium Ale to be won in a special competition here on the Coronation Street Blog.  Ther are 12 bottles in each case.

Note: Entries from moneysavingsexpert, Loquax or any other competitions website will not be entered into any of our competitions.

All you have to do to be in with a chance to win one of these two cases of Coronation Street ale is to answer the following two questions correctly and email the answer to me by the deadline of Monday 22nd August 2011 at 5pm.  The two winners will be drawn at random from the correct entries received.

Q1: What year was the Coronation Street Premium ale first brewed?
Q2: What are the two hops used in the production of the Coronation Street beer?

Note: The prizes can be shipped to a UK address only. Entrants must be over 18 years of age to enter.

See also: Suranne Jones' Corrie ale connection

Suranne Jones' Corrie connections

JW Lees Brewery in Manchester have brewed up a very special Coronation Street ale for the soap's 50th anniversary. We're big fans of the beer here on the blog, indeed, there's a bottle or two in our kitchen! Anyway, JW Lees have started an advertising billboard campaign using an image of Suranne Jones as Corrie's Karen McDonald.  JW Lees especially wanted to use an image of Karen as there’s a link to the brewery. Suranne Jones, who played Karen for four years in the show, has a long family history with JW Lees Brewery. Her dad Chris has worked as an engineer at the Brewery for over 25 years.

Suranne’s granddad also used to work at the Brewery for over 50 years as the bottling manager then in later years as the caretaker. Bobby Knox used to live in a house within the brewery site, but since he passed away in 1992, it was then that JW Lees decided to turn the building into an on-site bar to allow visitors to sample the range of beers the Brewery produces. This facility was refurbished in June 2008, and re-named as Knox’s Cottage in honour of Bobby. The guest of honour who officially opened Knox’s Cottage was none other than Coronation Street actress Suranne Jones, so it all fits in well.

JW Lees have been brewing Coronation Street premium ale since April 2009, and it’s now available in draught and in 500ml bottles. For more info, visit www.jwlees.co.uk/coronationstreet

Corrie beer and DVD competition winners announced

We had another fantastic response to our JW Lees competition here on the blog. The winning entries were randomised and two have been picked as follows. It's congratulations to Fleur Hutchinson who wins the crate of JW Lees Coronation Street beer. And congratulations to Gill Torri who wins the Corrie Romanian Holiday DVD.

With utmost thanks to JW Lees. Find out more about the Coronation Street beer.

The correct answers to the questions posed are:

Q1: In what year did Betty first work behind the bar at the Rovers Return?
A: 1969. Source: Granada TV book, The Coronation Street Story, Celebrating 35 years of the Street by Daran Little.
Q2. Name the two hops used in the making of JW Lees Coronation Street beer
A: Northdown and Golding hops

Coronation Street ale competition - last chance to enter

If you haven't yet entered the competition to win a crate of J W Lees Coronation Street beer or a copy of the Corrie Romanian Holiday DVD, you'd better be quick. The deadline for entries is today at 5pm - that's Monday 19 July.

The competition's here, be lucky!

WIN! Case of Coronation Street beer and DVD

With thanks to the lovely people at Manchester brewers JW Lees we've got two special prizes to give away in another great competition here on the Coronation Street blog.

We've got two prizes, the 1st prize is a case of eight bottles of the Coronation Street beer (which is fab!) and 2nd prize is a brand new Corrie Romanian Holiday DVD. To be in with a chance of winning one of these two smashing prizes, all you have to do is answer the two following questions correctly.

One of the answers can only be found by visiting the JW Lees Coronation Street beer website. Entrants must be over 18 years of age to win the beer prize and prizes can only be delivered to addresses in the UK.

1. In what year did Betty first work behind the bar at the Rovers Return?
2. Name the two hops used in the making of JW Lees Coronation Street beer

Email the correct answers to me by the deadline of Monday 19 July at 5pm. The two winners will be chosen at random. Good luck!

Find out more about JW Lees' Coronation Street beer

Samia and Shobna pull the Corrie pints

Brewers JW Lees are producing the Coronation Street 50th annivesrary beer (and very nice it is too!). Here's a picture of Corrie actresses Samia Smith (Maria) and Shobna Gulati (Sunita) at a promotional event for the beer in Manchester last month.

Find out more about the Corrie beer.

Coronation Street competition winner announced

Congratulations to Gail Duncan in Manchester who is the winner of our JW Lees' Coronation Street premium ale competition.

Gail correctly answered the three questions and the prize of a case of the new Coronation Street beer is on its way to her this week direct from Manchester brewer JW Lees. Find out more about the new Coronation Street beer here.

The answers to the questions are as follows:

1. Which brewery manager wanted to turn the Rovers Return into a theme pub in 1990: Mr Newton or Mr Ridley?
This was Nigel Ridley - he wanted to turn the Rovers into a theme pub called Yankees.

2. In addition to Newton & Ridley, what was the name of the other main Weatherfield brewery?
Nuttall's.

3. What is the name of JW Lees’ unique pint glass that it’s recommended you enjoy a pint of Coronation Street premium ale in?
The Grip Glass.

With hearty thanks to the lovely people at JW Lees.

Last chance to enter fab Corrie competition

The prize is a case of J W Lees' Coronation Street bottled beer.
The closing date's Saturday 20 June at 6pm sharp.
So... have you entered the fab Coronation Street competition yet?

To enter, click here.

Win a case of Coronation Street beer

With thanks to the lovely people at Manchester brewers JW Lees, we've got an exclusive competition for the blog. The new Coronation Street premium ale is now on sale and we've got a whole case of beer to give away in this wonderful Corrie competition. To win a case of Coronation Street beer delivered direct to your door, you must correctly answer the following three questions.

1. Which brewery manager wanted to turn the Rovers Return into a theme pub in 1990: Mr Newton or Mr Ridley?
2. In addition to Newton & Ridley, what was the name of the other main Weatherfield brewery?
3. What is the name of JW Lees’ unique pint glass that it’s recommended you enjoy a pint of Coronation Street premium ale in?

To enter, email the correct answers to all three questions to me.
You must have a mailing address on the UK mainland in order for the case of beer to be delivered to you. Entrants must be aged over 18. Deadline for entries is 6pm on Saturday 20 June. The winner will be drawn at random from all entries received and details of the winner will be posted to the blog. Good luck!

Buy the new Coronation Street beer in Manchester pubs

Corrie fans will soon be able to sup a pint of Coronation stret beer. It's true, and all the details are all on Ian Wylie's blog at the Manchester Evening News.

But as he points out, there’s a catch as the '4.2% quality draught ale' will only be available in the chain of pubs run by Manchester brewer JW Lees.

For those Corrie fans who know their beer - do you know if JW Lees are brewing this specially or will it be a re-badge jobbie?