MUSSELBURGH'S Riding of the Marches is toasting success after having its own beer brewed.

The Knops Beer Company, which is based at Archerfield estate near Dirleton, has produced ‘Musselburgh Champion’ to celebrate the event, which is held in the Honest Toun every 21 years.

The Riding of the Marches – a ceremony which marks the burgh’s ancient boundaries – is thought to date back to the 5th century, but was first recorded in 1682.

During the town’s festivities from July 23 to 31, an armour-clad Town Champion, Neil Wilson, a former Honest Lad, will protect the official party, which will stop at 12 boundary stations around the town to cut a sod of turf and proclaim: "It’s a’ oor ain."

‘Musselburgh Champion’ is a five per cent India Pale Ale. This light-golden ale aims to deliver maximum flavour and refreshment to enjoy throughout the RoM2016 celebrations. The crisp sweetness of British malted barley and wheat balances well with the citrus and piney aromas of three different varieties of American hops to create a beer “of true strength and character – a beer fit for the Town Champion himself,” says the company.

Knops Beer Company was founded in 2010 by Robert Knops. After graduating from Heriot-Watt University with a degree in brewing and distilling, he worked his way through production, purchasing and sales in a variety of different breweries across the UK.

In 2010 he left the corporate world with the dream of starting his own brewery.

Moving back to Edinburgh, Robert began trial brewing on a 20-litre kit in his dad’s garage.

The first batches of ‘California Common’ – a beer inspired by the ‘steam beers’ of the American west coast – were tested out on family and friends.

With the financial climate in 2010 still a barrier to opening up his own production facility straight away, Robert decided to have his new beer brewed under contract in an another brewery for both bottle and cask to get things up and running. However, contract brewing provides its own stresses and issues, and at times a tough uphill struggle.

The situation as a contract brewer could not continue, so in 2013, Robert was delighted to finally move into Knops. Situated in the Archerfield estate, the brewery and bottling line lets Robert and his team control 100 per cent of beer production and packaging.

A spokesman for the Knops Beer Company said: “The creative and adaptive freedom of small-scale production mixed with state-of-the-art processes and methods, allows Knops Beer Company to create a range of beers which both reflects the rich traditions and heritage of brewing, and also looking forward to where craft beer is heading, with innovative techniques and new possibilities.”

‘Musselburgh Champion’ is already available throughout Musselburgh in bottle, keg and cask. For more information see www.rom2016.co.uk and www.knopsbeer.co.uk. For more information call 01620 388 588 or email info@knopsbeeer.co.uk