SUIP!

Seventy-five years ago, the then-King of England Edward VIII abandoned the Britannic throne to elope with American socialite Wallis Simpson, leaving his brother, a very dapper Colin Firth, to inherit both the crown and a lifetime of opportunities to garble his way through public speeches.

Disregarding the artistic licence used in The King’s Speech, Tom Hooper’s Oscar-winning triumph, the real-life Edward of England did not only leave his brother in a precarious position, but he also left behind a very special beer, one that didn’t see the light of day - until, rather amazingly, it was found last week. Edward VIII’s Coronation Ale was to be released to the British public on the day of the one year anniversary of his coronation, which, of course, never occured. Brewed by the Greene King brewery in Suffolk, it lay forgotten in a bricked-up cellar for three quarters of a century.

But when workmen were called into the 200 year-old brewery to replace a floor a few weeks ago, that all changed. Although the corked bottles’ labels had faded considerably, a quick dusting revealed their priceless provenance.

It’s the most important beer finding of this decade so far, and one that will more than likely turn a large profit for the King brewery. The bottles are expected to fetch thousands each at auction and in private sales. The kicker: they are still very much drinkable.

The discovery of the 2,000 bottles of vintage ale has delighted brewer John Bexon, who claimed the drink has “kept really well”.

He said: “This really would have been a fantastic beer in its day, it was 12% when it was brewed so is quite strong and has kept really well.

“The rich fruit flavour still stands out and you can see a clear ring around the top of the beer when you look at it through the glass, rather like you might see on a vintage port or wine.”

Of course, this is all very exciting. But don’t let me spoil the intricacies of a great story. For more, head over to The Drinks Business, or alternatively to SWNS.