Chris Mason, Bar and Cellar Supervisor, came up with the idea of naming the ale ‘Billy Pride’, but the name will resonate with generations of students from Fitzwilliam.
Chris Mason said: “Our very own Billy Pride is an English ale with hoppy, citrus undertones balanced with bitterness and a light sweetness. It has an aroma that is packed with soft fruit notes and a clean, moreish finish. It has a 3.7% ABV.”
The bar will also be offering ‘Fitz Lager’ (4.0% ABV), a classic blonde sparkling variety made of 100% Scottish barley and hops, which gives it a clean refreshing taste with a subtle biscuity malt.
Fitz Bar recently changed its beer supplier to the more local Greene King, and the brewery offered the College the chance to produce its own house draught beers.
Chris Mason said: “We are very proud to offer both Fitz lager and our Billy Pride cask ale. Our Fitz lager will be a permanent draught lager. The Billy Pride will be on sale at least a few times each term, on the pump at the start and end of term times.”
Billy Pride will certainly be making an appearance for the special gathering, in July, of students who first came to Fitzwilliam in 1966, 50 years ago. It was the first year the College could actually call itself a College.
The Royal Charter granted in 1966 established Fitzwilliam as a full, independent College in the University of Cambridge; but Fitzwilliam’s origins actually date back nearly 150 years to 1869. It was in 1869 that the University set up the ‘Non-Collegiate Students Board’ to develop more economical ways for students to study at Cambridge. The cost of being a ‘non-collegiate’ student at Cambridge was half that of being a member of a college, and at the same time access to the University was widened.
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