Racecourse’s hope that From The Notebook Eider takes off

Newcastle Racecourse is hoping a From The Notebook beer, inspired by the wildlife of Northumberland, will take off ahead of one of the biggest days in its calendar.

From The Notebook, which has its butterfly and bird named ales contract brewed by Allendale Brewery, will see its 4.2% ABV “dark beer” Eider stocked in the Gosforth Park racecourse’s Border Minstrel pub.

“This is not quite our first cask beer,” said the business’ co-founder Graeme Denton, “We did a few casks of Puffin for last years Amble Puffin Festival.

“But hopefully now Allendale will brew more casks for us.”

The beer is set to hit the bar in time for the Betfred Eider Chase national hunt race day on February 22.

“The Eider Chase is one of our pinnacle National Hunt racedays, so it seemed fitting to mark the occasion by stocking a special guest ale in its honour,” David Williamson, managing director of Newcastle Racecourse, told The Journal.

“Eider Dark Beer is brewed locally, is inspired by local wildlife and sales from the ale support British wildlife conservation.”

The history of From The Notebook

Founded in January 2012 From The Notebook Ltd contracted Allendale Brewery in Northumberland to make a range of bottle beers, which were named after the county’s sea birds.

That initial range, which had featured artwork by local wildlife enthusiast Stewart Sexton, included four beers – 3.8% ABV best bitter Puffin, 4% golden Kittiwake, Eider and 6% IPA Arctic Tern.

A second bottled range, named after butterflies, subsequently followed with 4.8% ruby ale Red Admiral, 3.8% amber Orange-Tip, 4% best bitter Gatekeeper and 4.2% “tawny ale” Brown Hairstreak all hitting shelves through a distribution deal with Ashington-based Northumbrian Gifts.