Thirst Rescue was first brewed in April 2007 to celebrate the Keswick Mountain Rescue Team’s 60th anniversary. This was a golden 4% malty beer which proved very popular. When the anniversary had come to an end the decision was made to broaden the support for all the Mountain Rescue Teams. With the England and Wales Team celebrating their 75th anniversary the inspiration came to make this support more widespread.

Thirst Rescue became a permanent beer, as a golden, now 3.7% bitter, with aromas of citrus and exotic fruit. Keswick Brewing Company are donating 5p per pint of Thirst Rescue sold, to the Mountain Rescue. Each pub were asked which Mountain Rescue Team they would like to support, either local, regional or national. Each pub could also donate themselves if they wished {for those pubs, 10p per pint shows on the pump clip}, The brewery collected all the donations so the pub did not have any extra work. 

The brewery hosted a celebration evening on the 4th March. Both Keswick and Patterdale Mountain Rescue teams attended, along with the Dog and Gun and Royal Hotel. Pete Ede of the Dog and Gun in Keswick along with Sue and Phil, presented the cheque for £1095.50 to the Keswick Mountain Rescue. The Dog and Gun have supported the Keswick Mountain Rescue Team for many years and through the sale of Thirst Rescue raised £931.00. Anthony Dooker from the Royal Hotel, Dockray together with Sue and Phil  presented the cheque for £54.25 to the Patterdale team. The Royal have close links with the Patterdale team and were very pleased to support them. Many pubs have supported their teams through Thirst Rescue, in particular the Royal Oak Ambleside, Mardale Bampton, Fish Buttermere, Lion Ireby, Bower House Eskdale. Money has also been raised for Penrith, Langdale and Ambleside, Cockermouth, Wasdale,  Duddon and Furness, LDSAMRA {Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association, England and Wales Scottish Mountain Rescue. 

Keswick MRT Secretary, Paul Cheshire, said, ” We were really pleased when Sue & Phil agreed initially to brew a special beer for Keswick MRT’s  60^th year celebrations. The idea has caught on and raised a huge amount of money for the Team, thanks especially to Peter at the Dog & Gun in Keswick. Better still, Thirst Rescue has now been a much wider success, benefitting many other mountain rescue teams throughout the UK. The work and the money that Sue & Phil put into making the fundraising work so well with all the different pubs is just fantastic. We hope that lots more pubs and bars up and down the country ‘come to the Rescue’, so to speak!”

Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team Association Chairman, Tim Jones said, “Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team would like to express their sincere thanks to both The Royal Hotel, Dockray and the Keswick Brewery for the support they are giving to us via ‘Thirst Rescue’. It is great to be able to combine drinking a good beer with raising money for the team.  Long may it continue.”

 Keswick Brewing Company hope to continue Thirst Rescue for years to come. 

Support your local Mountain Rescue Team - Ask for a Thirst Rescue.