Older people and people living with dementia in and around Bristol celebrated the launch of their debut beer on Thursday 6th November, to mark the centenary year of the St Monica Trust, a charity and not-for-profit, which provides retirement villages, specialist care homes and support for older people.

The launch took place at Wiper and True, the Bristol-based brewery used to convert the hops into beer. The residents hope that sales of it will let others join them in gaining the benefits of gardening, brewing and social connections.

The new brew resulted from sessions run by Hoppiness Brews, a Bristol-based community interest company which is pioneering ways to enrich the lives of older people and people living with dementia by encouraging creativity, outdoor activity and healthy ageing.

More than 150 residents living in the St Monica Trust’s retirement villages and care homes have taken part in planting, nurturing and harvesting the hops used to make the best bitter now being marketed as Hundred Not Out.

The project began with residents holding a ceremony at the St Monica’s Trust Garden House Care Home to ‘wake’ the hops when they were first planted. The good weather this summer helped to create a bumper harvest, with Wiper and True brewers commenting on the outstanding yield.

David Williams, Chief Executive of the St Monica Trust, said: “It has been a real pleasure watching both the hops and our residents of all abilities, flourishing through their involvement with Hoppiness Brews.

“Hundred Not Out embodies the spirit of connection, contribution and choice that underpins everything we do at the St Monica Trust and it is the perfect brew with which to toast our 100 years of caring.”

Hoppiness Brews co-founder, Guy Manchester said: “Thanks to support from Alive Activities, the St Monica Trust and Wiper and True, we’ve been able to involve local care home and retirement village residents, their families and care teams in the full brewing journey – from nurturing hops in gardens to deciding on the name of the finished beer.

“Along the way, we’ve delivered therapeutic multi-sensory activity sessions for residents with a diagnosis of dementia which, as well as fostering socialisation and a sense of identity, have also triggered happy memories of earlier get-togethers, including in a place most of us visit at some time in our lives – the pub.”

Brewery boss Michael Wiper says: “Brewing Hundred Not Out together has been a real celebration of community and creativity. It’s an absolute privilege to see how beer can bring people together across generations and make such a positive impact.” Wiper and True will be selling it in their taproom and via its online shop. The beer will also be available to buy in the St Monica Trust’s restaurants and cafes.

Other outlets are also being sought with any profits from sales being reinvested by Hoppiness Brews into expanding its work with care homes, hop gardens and brewing partnerships in and around Bristol and across the South West.

Among the St Monica Trust sites involved with the project are its retirement villages and care homes in Keynsham, Westbury-on-Trym, Sandford and Bedminster, with extra hops coming from care homes in Filton, Redland and Soundwell, and from Alive Activities’ dementia-friendly allotments.

St Monica Trust Resident, Caroline Drewell said: “For me it was the joy of looking across the table and seeing residents from our villages and care homes busily picking hops together. It didn’t matter how many you picked or how fast, everyone was contributing and helping each other, with plenty of laughter and chatting.