A DOZEN of the county’s best brewers have joined forces to produce a limited-edition beer that could be the finest pint Oxfordshire has ever seen.

Experts from long-established breweries including Hook Norton and Wychwood have teamed up with newcomers including Tap Social Movement and Enstone’s Oxbrew to create the drink, which will be on sale during Oxford Beer Week next month.

In total, all 12 founding members of the Oxford Brewers Alliance have lent their expertise to the one-off brew which is intended to promote drinking local products.

Some 1,300 litres were made at the Shotover Brewer’s base in Horspath on Thursday and all proceeds from the drink, called ‘Oxford Special Bitter’, will be donated to Helen and Douglas House.

Jamie O’Sullivan, of Shotover Brewers, said: “There are some amazing beers being made in Oxfordshire but trying to get pubs to stock them can be quite difficult.

“It has been getting better in recent years but there are a lot of pubs run by companies or are tied houses and only stock a small range.

“We’re all technically rivals but we are all trying to do the same thing and get the best beer to the people of Oxfordshire.”

The special brew will be on sale in pubs including the Perch in Binsey, the Castle in Castle Street, the Rose and Crown in North Oxford and Botley’s Tap Social.

Only one batch will ever be made and once it is gone it is gone, warns Mr O’Sullivan.

It’s being made as part of a week of activities planned to run between May 5 and 13.

Starting with the Witney Beer Festival, other events include festivals at the Perch and Tap Social and the launch of a Loose Cannon beer at the White Rabbit.

James Clarke, of Hook Norton Brewery, who came up with the concept for the week said they were hoping to build on the success of the inaugural event last year.

He said: “I don’t know of many industries where you would invite all your competitors into your factory to work together but this is what is great about brewing.

“We’d never reveal our trade secrets but we work together and help each other out where we can and to promote brewing locally.

“There is a lot of experts in the room, it is sure to be a great collaboration.”

Wychwood’s Dave Carter said he thought pubs were more willing to stock local beers now, after a surge in interest from customers.

He added: “Oxfordshire has a long brewing history and we are proud of the products we make.

“We are all in the same business and share the same aims so why wouldn’t we work together?

“But it doesn’t work like that in other parts of the country.”