The two are celebrating 20 years of their unique partnership by collab brewing a special beer. “Into the Wild”, a subtly spiced wit beer, will be the latest in a long line of beers brewed for the Trust by the Nottingham-based brewery, and will be on sale in pubs, bars, and beer shops across the U.K. from mid-March.

The partnership between Castle Rock and the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust began in 2001 when the Trust’s Erin McDaid pondered over how to pair his love of the natural world with his love of beer. He met with Castle Rock founder, Chris Holmes, at the Vic in Beeston for a beer and a chat. Two decades later and the friendship has helped raise over £130,000 for the Trust.

‘We have brewed about 155 unique recipes for the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust,’ says Castle Rock head of brand and communication Liv Auckland. ‘We wanted Into the Wild to be extra special by making an Open Call for the beer artwork. This partnership is all about taking action on our doorstep to protect and nurture the natural world, so it only feels right that our communities are part of the process. This is a really rare opportunity for someone to see their artwork on a beer label and be a key part in marking such a special occasion. We can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with.’

The brewery is asking for submissions for the can, keg, and cask labels for Into the Wild, inspired by the theme of ancient woodlands. Artists – whether amateur or professional – can utilise any technique or style to create their design. All submissions will be part of an exhibition at the beer launch, taking place at the Canalhouse in March.  

Castle Rock is also launching a podcast, with the first three episodes focusing on the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust and featuring guests from the charity, while the Trust will be launching their 2022 campaign at the end of February.

‘I remember the meeting at the Vic as if it was yesterday and working with the team at Castle Rock Brewery to raise awareness of the county’s wildlife and need to restore it down the years has been a joy. Our partnership has shaped how we collaborate with companies to create a wilder Nottinghamshire and we are very much looking forward to continuing to work together to inspire people to take action for nature,’ says Erin McDaid, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust’s Head of Communications and Marketing.