James May Approved: Badger’s The Spanner Has Arrived in Pubs
Great news for beer enthusiasts and James May fans… Badger's latest seasonal cask ale, The Spanner, is now pouring in pubs across the South of England, including the entire Hall & Woodhouse managed estate, selected business partners, and James May’s pub - The Royal Oak in Swallowcliffe.
Created in collaboration with James May, The Spanner is a refreshing 3.8% ABV traditional session beer, brewed entirely with British ingredients. Named after one of the most dependable tools in the shed, it celebrates simplicity, reliability and doing one job exceptionally well.
It brings together traditional British brewing and the no-nonsense approach of one of the country's best-known motoring enthusiasts, James May.
As James puts it: “The Spanner isn’t trying to be clever. It has a single purpose; to be a good, reliable British ale that makes you want to stay in the pub for another, and another. If you want a beer that does more than this, you’re probably asking too much of it.”
Brewed by the team at the Badger Brewery in Dorset, The Spanner combines pale, crystal and amber malts to create a light auburn pour with a satisfying biscuit character. A blend of British hop varieties, including Challenger, Harlequin and Olicana, delivers a balanced, easy-drinking finish that keeps you coming back for the next sip.
Designed for drinkers who appreciate a well-made pint without unnecessary fuss, The Spanner is equally at home as a post-work pint or enjoyed over a long afternoon in the pub.
Follow the Badger Journey with James
To tell the full story behind The Spanner, we created a four-part social series with James, following the beer from first conversation to first pint.
It begins in our Head Brewer Toby’s shed, where James sits down to talk through the idea with Toby, before heading to the Badger Brewery for a tasting and a closer look at how the beer is made. The journey finishes at The Royal Oak, where James introduces The Spanner and joins consumers for a first taste.
Check out the series across both our social channels to see the whole collaboration come together!
Where to Find The Spanner
The Spanner is available this September and October in participating Hall & Woodhouse managed pubs, as well as at James May's pub, The Royal Oak, Swallowcliffe, where fans of both great beer and great engineering can raise a glass to a collaboration built on shared values: quality, craftsmanship and getting things right.
Brewed by Badger. Approved by James May.
