Keighley brewery Timothy Taylor's is seeking the help of our readers in tracing a local woman and a 26-year-old bottle of beer.

Laura Darnbrough recently contacted a newspaper to say her brother had a bottle of Timothy Taylor Blue Label beer which dated back to at least 1972, and wondered if it would still be drinkable. She also wondered if anyone from Taylor's would like to open the bottle.

Laura said her brother Glen Wignall came across the bottle on a shelf when he bought an off-licence shop in Drewry Road, Keighley, in 1972. He grew attached to it and took the bottle with him when he moved to Oakworth and later to Essex, and now both have settled in Oxford-shire.

Taylor's head brewer Peter Eells says: "Unfortunately Taylor's has only ever made beer 'for supping', and although we believe our ales in the beer world match the finest clarets in the wine world, they do not improve with keeping in bottle.

"Therefore we feel that the flavour and clarity of a 26-year-old Blue Label are better remembered than examined."

Mr Eells tried to contact Laura at Oakbank Lane, Keighley, the address she gave to the newspaper, but no one there knew of her.

He is keen to invite both Laura and Glen to the brewery to open Glen's bottle in the company of some of the staff who were in the bottling hall in 1972. He has also extended the invitation to anyone else who has an unopened bottle of an even earlier vintage Taylor's beer.

"I should be delighted to hold a Grand Bottle-Opening Ceremony," he says.

"And a case of newly-bottled Landlord will be presented to compensate for the loss of any memories while the old beer is poured!"

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