An exploding bottle has inspired family brewer Bateman’s to recreate a classic ale recipe.

Bateman’s Vintage Ale - to be sold exclusively by Aldi (rsp: £3.29/ 500ml) - is a 7.5% abv beer based on Bateman’s BBB barley wine, which was produced for more than 50 years at the brewery near Skegness.

At the end of the final run, in 1976, MD George Bateman put the last four cases aside for his son Stuart’s 21st birthday, then four years away.

However, the bottles were forgotten until one burst just over a year ago. Stuart Bateman, now MD himself, has worked with the brewing team to recreate the recipe. “We’ve chosen to recreate the ale so others can taste this piece of history,” he said.

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