St Austell Brewery's 175th cask ale range makes unique anniversary gifts

St Austell Brewery is celebrating its 175th anniversary in 2026 with a limited-edition cask ale range that revives archive recipes and introduces a new beer named 1851. The collection is described by the brewery as an eight-strong cask line-up drawing on brewing books dating back to the 1800s, and the company framed it as part of a year-long programme of commemorative events and collaborations.

Among the beers named so far is Trelawny, a 3.8% best bitter that the brewery says is fondly remembered by beer fans. Trelawny will be the first release from the series and will be available in St Austell Brewery pubs from 30 March. ProtzOnBeer supplies fuller historical colour for the name: Bishop Trelawny led a mutiny in 1688, was imprisoned in the Tower of London, was later acquitted, and his release prompted big celebrations in Cornwall.

Admiral’s Ale returns as a 5% beer first brewed in 2005 to mark the bicentenary of Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar. The final release in the cask line-up is Tribute Extra at 5.3% ABV, presented as the big sibling of St Austell’s bestselling Tribute pale ale. BeerToday notes that Tribute Extra is brewed with Cornish barley and signature Celeia and Willamette hops, and describes it as “the rich pale ale is bold, complex, and full of character.”

Georgina Young, Brewing Director at St Austell Brewery, positioned the range as both celebration and stewardship of local brewing heritage. “Reaching 175 years is an extraordinary milestone, so it felt only right to celebrate by bringing some of our most cherished beers back to life. Our brewing archives are full of wonderful recipes – beers that meant something to the people who brewed them and to the communities that enjoyed them,” she said.

Young added the brewery aimed to balance authenticity with modern standards of production. “Revisiting classics, such as Trelawny and Tinners is a reminder of just how deeply our heritage runs, while giving us the chance to brew the beers with the quality and consistency made possible by modern techniques. As a team, we’re incredibly proud to honour our past while continuing to innovate for the beer drinkers of today.”

Availability is focused on St Austell Brewery’s estate and trade partners: the commemorative range will appear in the brewery’s pubs and is available to order for wholesale customers. The brewery’s LinkedIn post described the collection as the start of year-long celebrations and included a graphic credited to Richard Whitehouse; social comments on the post show consumer interest in other revived titles such as Clouded Yellow.

For anniversary gifting, the range offers tangible provenance: Trelawny’s 3.8% best bitter makes a Cornish-themed present for family with regional ties, Tribute Extra’s 5.3% Cornish-barley and Celeia/Willamette hop profile suits collectors who prize bold, complex pale ales, Admiral’s Ale appeals to anyone interested in naval history, and the new 1851 provides a fresh centenary marker for collectors. With releases staggered through the year and distribution through pubs and wholesale orders, the eight-strong cask line-up is a distinctly local, archival option for marking anniversary milestones as St Austell moves through its 175th programme.