Legendary international DJ Graeme Park has created a special edition pale ale with proceeds supporting sarcoma research after losing his 18-year-old son to the rare form of cancer.
Graeme has teamed up with a London brewery, Park Brewery in Kingston, to produce the pale ale, with 10 per cent of profits going to cancer charity Sarcoma UK in memory of his son Oliver.
The beer, called Park vs Park House Session Pale Ale, launches on Sunday with a party at the brewery.
The unlikely collaboration began when Graeme’s brother-in-law ordered a box of beer from Park for Graeme’s birthday. Frankie Kearns, brewery co-founder, asked if it was for the DJ Graeme Park and said she went to university in Manchester so she could go to the Hacienda nightclub where Graeme and other famous DJs played. From there, a collaboration was suggested.
Graeme told the brewery what he liked in a pale ale and even spent a day there to be part of the production process. “I was climbing ladders, smelling hops and turning taps on,” he said.
The end result is a beer (3.5 per cent alcohol) that Graeme describes as a “citrusy, fruity pale ale with a hint of grapefruit”. The mix was suggested by Graeme.
To celebrate the launch of the beer, Graeme will be DJing at New Barn Marquee at Ramside Hall in Durham on Sunday 6 July. Graeme became an ambassador for Sarcoma UK after his son’s death.
“It’s a dream collaboration,” says Frankie Kearns. “As a former Manchester University student, I saw Graeme at the Haçienda many times, it means a lot to me and it’s even more special to be supporting Sarcoma UK with the proceeds from this beer.”
“We’re incredibly grateful to Graeme Park and Park Brewery for this generous partnership,” said Richard Davidson, Chief Executive of Sarcoma UK. “Funds raised from this venture will support vital research into sarcoma – research that could help ensure other families don’t have to endure the heartbreak that Graeme and his family experienced when they lost Oliver at just 18 years old. Sarcoma affects people of all ages, often striking young adults in the prime of their lives. With more funding for research, we can work towards better diagnosis and treatments, so that no parent has to watch their child deal with this devastating disease.”
Park v Park House Session Pale Ale will be available from selected outlets across the UK as well as the brewery’s website at https://www.theparkbrewery.com/
