A limited edition beer has been produced in a souvenir Wade ceramic bottle to commemorate the centenary of the launch of the legendary ocean liner, RMS Titanic. 

Staffordshire’s Titanic Brewery has also commissioned award winning film maker Professor Ray Johnson to complete a documentary film lovingly recording the story of the Titanic in the words of the shipbuilders, crew and survivors of the ill-fated liner.

The film, entitled Prepare to Launch, draws on research, interviews and film gathered by Ray Johnson over the past 30 years and includes actual interviews with survivors.

Stoke-on-Trent based Titanic Brewery was named in recognition of the fact that the Potteries was the birthplace of Captain Edward Smith, Master of the ill fated Titanic ocean liner. 

The great hull of the Titanic – the pride of the White Star line – was launched at Harland and Wolff’s Belfast shipyard on 31 May, 1911. 

Now Titanic Brewery has teamed up with locally based Wade Ceramics to produce a very special limited edition Titanic Launch Ale. 

Just 250 bottles of the strong (5.9 per cent ABV) golden ale IPA style strong ale will be produced at the award winning Burslem based brewery. 

The production follows a successful collaboration between Titanic and Wade for a limited edition Royal Ale in honour of the recent wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton – now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. 

Wade is world renowned for their production of highly collectable commemorative ceramic bottles for the whisky trade.  The collaboration with the Titanic is the first time they have worked with a brewery. 

The commissioning of a documentary film is a first for Titanic Brewery. 

It will be launched at a premiere at the Film Theatre, Staffordshire University, College Road, Stoke, at 7.30pm on Wednesday, 25 May. 

The film documents the story of the Titanic, including the night of 14 April, 1912, when the great liner – which was thought to be unsinkable – hit an iceberg and began to take on water. 

Titanic sank the following day with the loss of 1,517 passengers and crew. 

Captain Smith, born in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, went down with his ship after organising an evacuation which led to 706 lives being saved. 

He is believed to have uttered the words “Be British” shortly before the Titanic sank at 2.23am on 15 April, 1912. 

Keith Bott, Managing Director of Titanic Brewery, said: “We wanted to make the film as a lasting tribute to Captain Smith. the crew and passengers of the Titanic. 

“Because of the disaster, it is often forgotten that Captain Smith who was born and educated in North Staffordshire, was renowned as the greatest sea captain of his time and was Commodore of the great White Star Line. 

“Stoke-on-Trent’s own Ray Johnson has produced a fabulous film.   He has carried-out a huge amount of research into the story of the Titanic and treats the subject matter with the dignity it deserves.” 

Mr Bott added: “Our first venture into limited edition ales for the Royal Wedding was a great success.  We are delighted to team up with renowned ceramic ware producers Wade once more to produce a “Titanic Launch Ale” in the ceramic bottles that they have specially designed and produced for us. 

A lower gravity hand pulled cask version of the beer called ‘Slipway’ has also been produced to mark the centenary of the launch of RMS Titanic and is available now to buy from the Titanic Brewery and pubs and other outlets.  

The premiere is being held at the Staffordshire University Film Theatre, on College Road, Stoke. Doors will open at 7pm for a 7.45pm start. Admission is free of charge. 

ENDS 

For further information about Titanic Brewery contact Keith Bott on 01782 823477, or for information about Prepare to Launch contact Prof. Ray Johnson Director of Staffordshire Film Archive on 07774482414.

Note to editors:  

Titanic Brewery was founded in Burslem in 1985 and has grown to produce more than two million pints of fine ale every year. It is owned by Stafford born brothers Keith and Dave Bott. Keith is Chairman of SIBA, the society of independent brewers. The brewery name is in recognition of Stoke-on-Trent as the birthplace of Captain Edward Smith, Master of the ill fated Titanic ocean liner.

Titanic’s full range of beer can be seen on the company’s website at www.titanicbrewery.co.uk