STUDENTS often have a reputation for putting more effort into studying pints of beer than their chosen subject.

And soon those at Oxford Brookes University will be able to sample a new brew created to celebrate their university’s 150th anniversary, devised by a former student.

John Henry, an India pale ale named after the university’s former principal and ‘spiritual founder’, John Henry Brookes, will be officially launched on Thursday ahead of the anniversary celebrations in 2015.

It was created by Brookes graduate Ed Murray, who now runs Shotover Brewing Company, in Horspath, and will be sold at the university from Friday.

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He said: “We wanted to do something really, really special.

“We decided to recreate an authentic 1865 recipe so the beer would reflect what beer tasted like when Oxford Brookes was founded.

“We did some research and found an 1864 export IPA recipe which we have produced as closely as we can.”

Beers brewed for export in the mid-19th century, before the Suez Canal opened, were much stronger than today as they had to withstand long journeys around Africa to the colonies. John Henry, which has an alcohol volume of 7.1 per cent, reflects that.

Mr Murray said: “This is a true export IPA, it’s special.

“We have done it in consultation with Brookes. We chose a special 750ml bottle which is similar to a champagne bottle and is wax sealed. It is an opportunity for us to be creative and it is enjoyable.

“We believe we have created an absolutely stunning beer.”

Vice Chancellor Janet Beer said: “Ed researched historic brewing recipes in the National Brewing Archives, which are housed at Brookes, to come up with the winning formula.

“We wanted something which represented what our anniversary celebrations are all about; sharing with others our past successes and all that we continue to achieve in the future.”

Just 600 limited edition 750ml bottles of the beer will be available from the Brookes Restaurant and the Colonnade store on the Gipsy Lane campus, along with 336 smaller 500ml bottles.

Oxford Brookes, which opened in 1865 as Oxford School of Art, officially became a university in 1992.

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