History H.M. the King to Lord Burton at his seat at Rangemore on the 22nd February, 1902, when his Majesty inspected Bass and Co.’s Brewery and pulled over the levers which started a special mash of 400 barrels of extra strong ale, which for fifty years or more will be known as the King’s Ale. While Edward VII was crowned in 1902, it was in August, months after the beer was brewed, and the beer wasn’t done as a tie-in with the coronation. It almost seems like the king popped round to get a brewery tour while visiting his mate for the weekend. Apart from a small release in 1905, most was cellared until the 1911 coronation of George V. The brewery issued some bottles, but the independent bottlers who handled Bass also received casks, and they released the beer as well. Bass monopolised the King’s Ale name, and the others labelled it as Royal Ale it is a much rarer bottle. This vintage beer is shipped in a wooden presentation box with four wine accessories (corkscrew, wine pourer, drip stopper & wine thermometer) [worth £17.99] at no extra cost and now includes a free gift card with your personal message and tasting and storage notes.