New Collaborative Brew From Two Historic Family Breweries

Arkell’s Brewery and Donnington Brewery, two historic names in British brewing, are thrilled to announce the launch of a unique collaboration brew. This exciting new beer represents the culmination of a shared passion for quality brewing and showcases the craftsmanship and heritage of both breweries.

The brew team from Arkell’s Brewery in Swindon (Wiltshire) joined forces with the team at Donnington Brewery in Stow-on-the-Wold (Gloucestershire), where they utilised the renowned spring water to mill, mash, and boil the beer. The Spring water (or in brewing terms 'liquor') is drawn from the spring beside the mill pond and is known for giving Donnington beers their signature taste. The unfermented brew was then transported to Arkell’s Brewery, where it underwent fermentation using their specialist lager tanks and house lager yeast.

The result is a remarkable 4% ABV cask lager, known as Donkels—a nod to the German Dunkel style and a play on the breweries' names. This beer is characterized by its light, refreshing, and crisp profile, its sweetness, and its depth of flavour, all complemented by a soft condition from natural cask carbonation rather than forced carbonation from CO2. By blending the unique qualities and brewing traditions of both breweries, this collaboration has resulted in a beer that stands apart from anything either has produced on their own.

Arkell’s Brewery, based in Swindon, is one of the oldest family breweries in the UK, established in 1843 by John Arkell. With a long-standing tradition of brewing excellence, Arkell’s offers a range of classic ales and lagers, brewed with passion and expertise.

"We're excited to bring this new cask lager to customers," said Alex Arkell, Head Brewer at Arkell’s Brewery.

"The collaboration with Donnington has allowed us to explore a new flavour brew while honouring our rich histories. Joining together with not only a fellow Independent Family Brewer, but my brother, has been wonderful."

"The combined expertise of Arkell’s and Donnington, boasting a collective 340 years of brewing heritage, has produced a beer that is both traditional and innovative. Mixing an ale malt with a lager yeast has created a hybrid that my brother John and I are extremely proud of.”

Donnington Brewery, located in Stow-on-the-Wold, in the heart of the Cotswolds, has been crafting traditional beers since 1865, when Richard Iles Arkell started brewing beer alongside the farming enterprise. Known for using pure spring water from its own source, Donnington Brewery prides itself on producing beers with a distinctive character and high quality.

John Arkell, Donnington Brewery commented: "This collaboration has been a remarkable journey for both of our breweries. It has allowed us to blend our rich brewing traditions and create a beer that is truly unique. The Donkels cask lager is a testament to what can be achieved when two historic breweries come together with a shared vision. We're excited for beer lovers to experience this blend of classic and contemporary brewing techniques."

The new brew is a seasonal special and will be available at participating venues in August.