Local boy strikes gold in beer naming competition

May 31, 2013

An 11-year-old from Henley has won a competition prize that he’s seven years too young to enjoy. Jake Jones came up with the winning name for a new beer from the Bell Street Brewery, but was unable to claim the advertised prize of a £100 bar tab – so instead pub owners Brakspear treated Jake and his family to dinner at the Bull on Bell Street pub.

Jake is a pupil at Trinity School and plays football for AFC Henley.  He named the ale ‘Golden Bull’ after seeing it at the Bull on Bell Street when dining there with his family earlier this month and reading its description as a ‘summer pale ale’. Brakspear designed a pump clip featuring a bull’s head for the beer.

Tom Davies, Brakspear chief executive, said, “Golden Bull was a clear winner, as it captured the summery lightness of the beer and the fact that it’s exclusive to the Bull.

“Jake’s age presented a bit of a challenge in terms of the prize, as we didn’t realise his age when we chose his name as the winner, and we did wonder whether he’d rather wait and then enjoy the prize at the Bull on Bell Street on his 18th birthday. In the end, though, it seemed fairer to put the money towards a meal for him and his family.”

Jake’s father Matt Jones added, “Jake was delighted when Brakspear selected his suggestion and he enjoyed seeing the pump clip on the bar.  It’s a shame he can’t also enjoy drinking the beer he christened, but I’ve tried a pint or two and have reassured him that it lives up to its name.”

Golden Bull is a 3.7% pale, summer ale, available exclusively from the Bull on Bell Street until September.  The Bell Street Brewery, located within the Bull, is a microbrewery producing Brakspear Special as a permanent ale as well as a range of seasonal ales, of which Golden Bull is the first.

Photograph shows Jake Jones with father Matt in the Bull on Bell Street