Gosport brewery Powder Monkey joins TikTok trend with its own sea shanty

Powder Monkey Brewing Co. is building its brewery - including a tasting room - inside E Magazine, a Grade-II listed building in Priddy’s Hard.

With more than 200 years of naval history surrounding the site, the owners have decided to embrace the viral craze for old-fashioned sea shanties.

Co-founder Andy Burdon said: ‘Obviously with all the publicity about sea shanties and with the naval links with the brewery, it just fitted.

‘It wouldn’t be right if we weren’t where we are.

‘We’re lucky to have so much history here.

We got contacted with a few musicians, and the result is brilliant.

‘It’s something different.’

The track – entitled Powder Monkey – was produced by a Mark Skirving, a musician from Birmingham and friend of brewery’s owners.

Mark said: ‘I was writing at the end of last year and thought it would be fun to do a sea shanty for them – they didn’t even know I was doing it.

‘And I’ve only just found out they are quite in fashion at the moment.’

The brewery hopes to have the tune available to stream on music players like Spotify and iTunes in the near future.

In the meantime, beer-lovers can check out the brewery’s range thanks to its online shop, with beer being made by a Berkshire business until the Gosport site opens.

In time for the Six Nations competition, Powder Monkey is currently offering cans of its Hop and Hooker range, a tribute to one of the businesses directors and shareholders – Steve Thompson, a former hooker for England's rugby team.

Andy said: ‘Canning the beers comes at a perfect time for the competition.’

Hop and Hooker will come as a 3.8 per cent pale ale with US hops, giving it a citrus aroma, and 4.3 per cent amber ale made with UK hops to create a fruit aroma.

The team at Powder Monkey plan to have the Gosport brewery operational this spring.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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