Old Peculier from Theakston’s Brewery

Old Peculier is possibly one of the country’s most well-known and loved ales. It is a popular guest real ale at The Retreat.

Old Peculier (5.6% ABV), an old ale, is Theakston’s most famous beer and has been made under this name since the 1890s.

In 2000, the cask version of this beer won the silver medal in the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA)’s Champion Winter Beer of Britain competition.

The label on the bottled version of the beer describes it as a “full-bodied, rich, smooth tasting ale with a mysterious and distinctive flavour”. It is named after the peculier of Masham, a peculier being a parish outside the jurisdiction of a diocese.

In 1985, The Economist dubbed it the “doyen of real ales”.

Old Peculier Official Tasting Notes

One of the world’s great beers – smooth, strong and mellow. Old Peculier made Masham famous – rich dark and smooth tasting, with a character all of its own. Brewed using the traditional Fuggle hop, Old Peculier is our best-known beer with a large and enthusiastic following all over Britain and around the world!

Unofficial Tasting Notes

A distinctive banana and black cherry aroma leading to a magnificent kaleidoscope of flavour. Rich, smooth and sweet.

Theakston’s Brewery Tour

The brewery runs a small visitor centre at its home in Masham where guided tours are given about the actual working brewery.

At the end of the tour, visitors are given tokens that can be exchanged for drinks at the bar of the Black Bull in Paradise, named after the original pub (Black Bull) and the location of the new brewery (Paradise Fields).

There is also a small shop, selling crates of bottled XB and Old Peculier, beer glasses, T-shirts and an assortment of other souvenirs.

>>> see the current real ales we have

Why is it Old Peculier rather than Old Peculiar?

According to Theakstons, “The name pays tribute to the unique ecclesiastical status of Masham as a ‘Court of the Peculier’ and is also a reference to the strong characteristic of the beer! For many years it was affectionately referred to as Yorkshire’s ‘Lunatic’s Broth’.”

See Old Peculier – What’s in a name? for more on this.