This autumn has seen the return of Double Diamond, one of the UK’s most memorable beers, after almost 30 years away from pubs and bars.
It has been resurrected by Allsopp’s Brewery, gradually making its way to pubs around the country and making its home at the newly-opened The Blue Stoops, in Kensington, London.
Three years ago, the storied Samuel Allsopp’s & Sons Brewery, known for its pioneering Burton India
Pale Ale, was revived under the leadership of Jamie Allsopp, a direct descendant of Samuel.
After finding the only remaining ledger containing authentic and original Allsopp recipes, Jamie believed these beers should not be consigned to history books. He set upon a mission to uphold the brand’s 300-year-old legacy.
Now, Jamie has breathed new life into Double Diamond, once the best selling beer of the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. Taking inspiration from the original 1822 IPA, the next iteration of Double Diamond uses an all-new recipe to bring a fresh and contemporary vision to the historic beer.
Big seller
At 3.8% ABV, Double Diamond is a bright and hoppy session pale ale, made for easy drinking.
“Double Diamond is our A-list star, a beer so popular it was up in lights on Piccadilly Circus, so famous the government considered nationalising it, a beer that worked such wonders it sold 50 million pints a year,” said Jamie.
“Double Diamond, whose recipe was based on our 1822 India Pale Ale, is now back being brewed by Allsopp’s, and it means a great deal to me. This sessionable pale ale is the next iteration of Double
Diamond, and we hope it will find a place in the affections of new drinkers, as well as those that haven’t tasted it in 30 years.”
Now, Double Diamond has a small, but not insignificant place here at Beer Today. I came across an unopened bottle a few years back at a car boot sale. It has a best before date of November 1982 and is branded Ind Coope, Allsopp’s having merged with this brewer in 1935.
It takes pride of place in the background of most of my beer notes photos, and I see no reason to open it yet. Who knows what condition it’s in? I don’t suppose I’ll ever find out, although perhaps my son will.
It’s Beer Today’s 20th anniversary this month!
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