ARKELL'S chairman Peter Arkell is celebrating as his traditional ale Peter's Porter is returning to the brewery's pubs next month.

A dark beer with an alcohol by volume of 4.3 per cent, Peter's Porter was first brewed in 1995 to Peter Arkell's own recipe, with added malted oats giving a silky-smooth flavour.

It won a prize at the 1996 International Brewers Awards.

Only a limited number of barrels are being brewed.

Peter Arkell said: "Over the last few years many of our customers have asked us to revive this beer.

"So as soon as Noel Ale was over for another year, we decided to cheer up a dull January by doing just that."

Porter beer was developed in London during the first half of the 18th century. The idea was to produce a darker, heavier beer than the ales commonly drunk at the time. It was named Porter because it was thought that this strong, nourishing drink would be just the thing for market porters and other hard working labourers.

Peter Arkell, who is 81 this month, is the only chairman of the company to have a beer named after him during his lifetime.