AN ALCESTER brewery is helping to mark the 150th anniversary of Wasps Rugby with a special limited edition tipple.

Purity Brewing Company has produced a a strong Rye IPA limited to just 150 bottles, to mark their big birthday.

Paul Halsey, managing director of Purity, who are sponsors for Wasps, said: “All of us at Purity are extremely proud of our partnership with this fantastic rugby club so we’ve poured our hearts and souls into this special beer to mark 150 years of Wasps.

"By matching their passion on the pitch, I know we’ve created a real crowd pleaser, both for beer fans and rugby lovers the nation over.

"Here’s to another 150 years of passion and performance, to every last drop!”

The 6.2 per cent limited edition beer has been brewed with champion malts, Maris Otter, Rye, Crystal Rye and Cara malts to create a warming copper orange colour, and hopped with Pilgrim, Chinook, Galaxy and Simcoe to create a lingering floral bitterness.

Stuart Cain, commercial director for Wasps Rugby, added: “This is a brilliant gesture from our partner and gives our fans something special to drink when we’re hopefully celebrating a place in the play-offs.

"Purity has helped us deliver a great cask ale experience at the Ricoh Arena and this just demonstrates further how they understand both rugby and what makes our fans tick.

“It’s ironic that we mark our 150th year with a celebration ale as good beer has been part of our story ever since we started.

"In fact, legend has it Wasps would have been a founder member of the RFU in 1871 if our representative hadn’t visited the wrong pub. It was only after a few drinks that he realised the error of his ways and was too late to attend the meeting!”