"More than a beer" - Powder Monkey Brewing Co. revives historic Pompey Royal beer

Powder Monkey Brewing Co. in Gosport is reviving Pompey Royal, a beer that has long history of being produced in the city. It was originally produced under the name Brickwoods Best before changing its name in the late 1970s where it became a popular beverage consumed across pubs in Portsmouth.

Over the years it has been produced by a number of different breweries with Powder Monkey becoming the latest as it looks to preserve its legacy.

Read the day’s headlines in your inbox with the help of emails from The News - sign up for free today

Andy Burdon, CEO at Powder Monkey Brewing Co. said: “We see Pompey Royal as more than just a beer — it’s part of Portsmouth’s identity. This is about making sure it remains a living part of the city, not something that fades into history.”

The Gosport brewery has teamed up with Portsmouth Football Club and Pompey in the Community for the relaunch as it looks to reinforce its connection with the city and help support local community initiatives.

Pompey Royal is described as a rich, full-bodied bitter that has a balanced malt character and subtle fruit notes.

It will initially be available in cask across selected venues in Portsmouth from the week commencing March 30. The beer will be available in a bottle in the future.

Most recently, Pompey Royal has been produced by Newtown Brewery in Gosport with Powder Monkey saying it recognises “the role other local brewers have played in keeping the name alive in recent years”. The brewery states it views this revival as a continuation of that effort.