Harrogate's famous 36 bus honoured with its own beer thanks to Harrogate Brewing Co

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Independent local Harrogate Brewing Company is producing ‘Thirsty Six’, a commemorative blonde beer labelled with the ever-popular bus service’s famous red and black colours and ‘The 36’ logo – both a familiar sight to the many thousands who travel every week on the prestige route linking the spa town with Leeds and Ripon.

It’s now hoped the special bottled beer – which is on sale via the Harrogate Brewing Company website at shop.harrogatebrewery.co.uk and the bus firm’s own Boutique online shop at shop.transdevbus.co.uk – will be a big hit with bus and beer fans alike in the run-up to Christmas.

The 36 is operated by Starbeck-based bus firm The Harrogate Bus Company, whose chief executive Alex Hornby said: “The 36 buses are the pride of our beautiful town, and with Christmas just around the corner, what better way could there be to celebrate everything that’s great about this famous bus route than with a bottle of its very own celebration ‘Thirsty Six’ beer?

“We’re delighted to be working with our friends at this great local brewery to offer this uniquely refreshing beer in honour of Harrogate’s own 36 bus – I’ll certainly be raising a glass to toast all of our incredible colleagues who’ve served our customers so well throughout this most unusual of years. Here’s to The 36!”

Owner of the family-run Harrogate Brewing Company, Joe Joyce, said: “We’re thrilled to have teamed up with The Harrogate Bus Company to produce this ‘Thirsty Six’ commemorative beer, to the same brew recipe as our popular Harlow Blonde ale.

“Everyone in Harrogate knows The 36 bus and its smart red and black colours are a familiar sight around town. Like us, it’s proud to be local, and we think that in this of all years, that’s something worth celebrating.

“Our ‘Thirsty Six’ beer is a lower alcohol blonde brew that uses English and American hops to create a delicate fusion of earthy, yet zesty flavours. We’re already taking orders for individual bottles or crates of 12, and it’s already selling very well for Christmas and the New Year as people celebrate at home this year.”

The 36 route runs up to every 10 minutes between Harrogate and Leeds, and up to every 20 minutes between Ripon and Leeds. Its buses are packed with customer-friendly features, including luxury leather seating, fast and free 4G Wi-Fi, skylight roof windows, LED mood lighting, on-board announcements by Yorkshire’s favourite TV news personality Harry Gration, and even an on-board library offering a selection of books for regular travellers to bring, take, swap and enjoy.

Full details of times and fare deals for the 36 are available on its dedicated website, transdevbus.co.uk/36 and from the travel shop at Harrogate Bus Station.

More information on the ‘Thirsty Six’ beer is on the Harrogate Brewing Company website at harrogatebrewery.co.uk

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