Shropshire brewery's special Poppy Ale

Wood Brewery, in Winstanstow, near Craven Arms, has teamed up with the Royal British Legion to mark the centenary of World War One this August.

The ale will be ready for the anniversary on August 4 and a percentage from each pint sold will be donated to the Poppy Appeal, brewers say.

Wood Brewery's managing director, Edward Wood, said: "We are proud to be able to support the Poppy Appeal in such a momentous year, as the work they do now with the current generation of armed forces is just as important as it was back in the period following the Great War.

"We are researching various ingredients in an attempt to create an ale that will reflect the type of beer that was around 100 years ago but with a modern twist."

Peter Whalley, community fundraiser for the Poppy Appeal in Shropshire, added: "We are delighted that the brewery is supporting us in this way.

"The money raised will help fund the £1.6million we need each week, over £83 million a year, to provide direct lifelong support to our armed forces and their families.

"I am looking forward to testing the brew!"

The ale will be available in the summer in both draft and bottled form.

Last year the firm celebrated a special milestone by producing its 5,000th brew, 33 years after the first barrels of Wood's Special were rolled out of the former stables behind the village's Plough Inn in Wistanstow, near Craven Arms.

The Wood Brewery is still in its original village location, but has grown dramatically since the early days.

It started with a capacity of seven barrels a week – but today it can turn out more than 100 barrels a week from a much-extended brewery.

Wood's employs 10 staff and its draught and bottled beers sell in pubs throughout the Midlands and Wales, as well as being shipped nationwide.

It has won many awards for the quality of its beers, the best known of which is now Shropshire Lad.