Owd Roger returns

January 3, 2006: Marston's Owd Roger (7.6%), a notoriously strong brew that once weighed in at 10 per cent, is back behind the bar of the Royal Standard in Beaconsfield after a break of 30 years or so, the Bucks Free Press is reporting.

Owd Roger is said to be about 500 years old and was once brewed at the Royal Standard. It is being brought back by Wolverhampton and Dudley-owned Marston's, which owns the beer.

Landlord Matthew O'Keefe is quoted as saying that the beer was popular in the pub in the 50s, 60s and 70s, after which the brewery stopped making it.

"Maybe I've got my wires crossed somewhere here, but I'm sure I recall drinking Owd Roger in the early 90s," says Beer Today editor Darren Norbury.

"It was on in the Old Ale House in Truro and was memorable as the sort of pint you could probably have stood a spoon up in.

"I chose it as a lunchtime pint which was a remarkably stupid thing to do. Luckily, it wasn't a busy afternoon ..."