A pub in Bath has become the first in the country to stock a new beer celebrating the 30th birthday of Britain's wackiest political party.
The Volunteer Rifleman's Arms in New Bond Street is now selling an ale brewed in Somerset for the Official Monster Raving Loony Party.
Co-ALE-ition In the Black is the latest beer to be sold in celebration of the party, set up by Screaming Lord Sutch in 1983.
The beer – a porter – is brewed by Cheddar Ales, whose owner Jem Ham responded to a request from the party for microbreweries around the country to help mark its milestone.
The party – which has never managed to retain a deposit at a general election – launched its first ale, a best bitter brewed in Basingstoke, in September.
Mr Ham has agreed that Cheddar Ale's Totty Pot Porter could be rebranded as Co-ALE-ition In the Black, and it is now being offered to pubs around the country.
The Bath pub run by Paul Alvis was the first to take the beer, with two others in Somerset also now selling it.
It was launched at an event at Cheddar Ales attended by party leader Alan Hope, who has himself been standing in elections for 30 years.
Mr Sutch stood under the OMRLP banner for the first time at a Parliamentary by-election in Bermondsey in London in February 1983.
Among the party's policies at the 2010 general election was a ban on all forms of greyhound racing to "stop the country going to the dogs."
Meanwhile, Bath-based Abbey Ales has teamed up with one of the city's most recognisable figures over a new guest ale.
The brewery's A Winter's Ale bitter – to be available from early next month – features a picture of Jane Austen Centre greeter Martin Salter on the pump clip.
He said: "I am very proud to appear on the pump clip as I have always been a big fan of Abbey Ales. I have known Alan and Simon Morgan from the brewery for a long time and they always wave when driving past the Jane Austen Centre in the Abbey Ales van."
The firm founded in 1997 makes guest beers alongside its Bellringer 4.2 per cent abv best bitter, which is the top selling cask bitter in the city.
The brewery also operates four pubs in the city centre under the Abbey Inns umbrella: the Star, the Coeur De Lion, the Assembly and the Trinity, all of which enjoyed record sales over Christmas.
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