A LOCAL brewery is tuning up for the launch of the magnificent new £57 million Birmingham Conservatoire in September.

The family-run Wye Valley Brewery at Stoke Lacy near Bromyard has been invited to create a limited edition ale to toast the opening of the new world-class facility at Jennens Road in central Birmingham.

And to make sure the brewery and the conservatoire bosses are singing from the same hymn sheet, conservatoire principal and renowned cellist Julian Lloyd Webber popped alone to the brewery to speak to staff and take a look at the brewing facilities.

Wye Valley Brewery marketing manager Abbie Gadd said Mr Lloyd Webber was already a big fan of the ales brewed at Stoke Lacy – his favourite is Butty Bach – and was keen to have a special beer for the launch of the new state-of-the-art premises.

“He rang me a couple of months ago to say he wanted us to brew a beer for the opening if the new building, which is obviously a big deal,” she said.

He visited the brewery last week with a representative from the catering department at the conservatoire to have a tour and tasting and discuss what the brewery could offer.

“We are going to bottle a one-off bespoke beer for the opening on September 7,” said Abbie.

She explained that Wye Valley Brewery had produced a one-off beer for the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra called Podium and Mr Lloyd Webber had tried it at one of the orchestra’s events.

“He thought it was mighty good. He was already a fan or our beers and though we could do a beer for the conservatoire opening.”

The working title of the new beer is Principal Ale, said Abbie, and there will be about 1,000 bottles for the launch. Because it is a limited edition, once it’s gone – it’s gone.

However the brewery will also be supplying a cask ale for the bar at the new building. “We are absolutely thrilled to be asked to supply the beer. It is always lovely when you get recognition. It was an absolute pleasure having him here. He is a real enthusiast and he was charming.

“He wanted us to make it because he feels we are the best brewery for the job. It is very exciting. We have also been asked to do another bespoke beer for the official opening next March when a member of the Royal Family will attend.”

After his visit to Stoke Lacy, Julian Lloyd Webber said: “I am very excited to be brewing a bespoke Wye Valley Brewery beer. It will be a real treat for students and visitors at the conservatoire to have this popular local brewery create something special for them.”

• The Wye Valley Brewery was established in 1985 and remains family owned by father and son, Peter and Vernon Amor. It sources more than 80 per cent of its hops from local farms and brews around 11 million pints of beer each year.

• The Birmingham Conservatoire is part of the City of Birmingham University and the new £57 million building will have five performance venues and seven recording studios combining the best traditions of analogue performance with the flexibility of 21st century digital systems.

• It will have Birmingham’s only dedicated jazz club; a 500-seat concert hall; an intimate 150-seat recital hall; 100 practice and rehearsal rooms; an organ studio; a complete AV digital interconnection and a technical infrastructure unrivalled in the UK.