Behind the Scenes of Our 25th Birthday Beer
- 28th Aug 2026
- Author: Elliott Langley
This year, we celebrated our 25th birthday, and what better way to mark the occasion than with a beer brewed especially for the occasion?
Our friends at Everards brewery created a limited-edition IPA called Citrus Supernova, inspired by space and crafted right here in Leicestershire. As part of the project, we were invited to name the beer ourselves. After an internal competition that produced plenty of suggestions, two finalists were sent to the Everards team. The clear winner was Citrus Supernova, suggested by our Space Crew Team Leader, Kat.
As the winning namer, Kat was invited to Everards brewery at Everards Meadows for a behind-the-scenes tour and the chance to discover how her beer came to life. I joined her to meet brewer Isaac, learn more about the brewing process, and find out what made Citrus Supernova such a perfect match for our birthday celebrations.
Thank you so much for joining us Issac. For any readers not familiar with Everards, could you give us a quick background?
Isaac: Everards is an independent family brewery based in Leicestershire, which was founded in 1849 by William Everard. Since that time, we have been committed to brewing great quality, flavor-some beers. All of our beers are brewed in Leicestershire at Everards Meadows and over six generations, we have grown to be one of the East Midlands' best-known breweries. Today, we own 145 pubs operating in 14 counties .
Why did Everards want to create a beer to celebrate the National Space Centre's 25th birthday?
Isaac: We love creating beers that commemorate special occasions and celebrate local partnerships. It also happens that we have produced space-themed beers in the past and they’ve always gone down well, so this felt like a natural fit. Space is something that captures everyone's imagination, and there always seems to be an exciting story in the news about exploration, discovery, or technology. Recently, we have also collaborated with local businesses, whether that is bakeries, universities, or other breweries. It's a very collaborative industry. The National Space Centre is such an iconic part of Leicester, and we are only down the road, so the partnership made perfect sense.
How did the team go about creating Citrus Supernova, and what inspired the flavour profile?
Isaac: The process usually starts with either a name or a brief, because that gives us an idea of the experience people want from the beer. In this case, the word "citrus" in the name was incredibly helpful. It immediately pointed us towards hop varieties that deliver bright, fresh flavours. We chose Citra hops because they naturally produce citrus notes, especially lemon and grapefruit notes.
Once we have established the flavour direction, we start making decisions about things like alcohol strength, colour, and overall character. We wanted something light, refreshing, and approachable, particularly as it was being released during the warmer months. From there, it is about bringing all those elements together into a balanced beer.
And just briefly, how does a beer actually get brewed?
Isaac: Brewing is a process that combines science, creativity, and a bit of patience. We begin by mashing malted grains with hot water to extract sugars. The liquid produced is then boiled, and that is when we add hops to create bitterness, flavour, and aroma. After that, the liquid is cooled and transferred to fermentation tanks, where yeast converts the sugars into alcohol.
Once fermentation is complete, the beer is conditioned, tested, and prepared for packaging. Every stage is carefully monitored to make sure the final beer is exactly what we set out to create.
The name Citrus Supernova was suggested by Kat at the National Space Centre. What was it about the name that stood out to you?
Isaac: I like names that are fun and memorable, and there was just something about Citrus Supernova that stuck with us. It immediately catches your attention and gives you an idea of what the beer might taste like. It felt energetic, space-themed, and a little bit different.
Kat, where did the idea come from?
Kat: I had a very long list of names, that I definitely came up with entirely by myself and had no help with! [Editor’s note: Kat’s plus one and driver gives me a look at this point…]
I wanted something that linked to our Astroberry soda, which we also had produced for our 25th birthday and is available in Boosters. But I also wanted it to sound fun and space-themed. Citrus Supernova seemed to tick all the boxes.
Some of the other ideas included ‘Hopollo 11’ and ‘Houston, We Have a Beer’, both of which I'm still quite proud of. But Citrus Supernova was definitely the right fit.
Are you much of a beer drinker in your own time, Kat?
Kat: I used to work for a brewery, and my family are all big beer drinkers, so the short answer is yes! These days I'm definitely more of a fruity beer person, so Citrus Supernova was right up my street.
What do you hope people think when they raise a glass of Citrus Supernova?
Isaac: First and foremost, I hope they enjoy it. As a brewer, I always think about the journey behind every pint. There is a lot of work, experience, and care that goes into creating a beer, so I'd love people to appreciate that process. And, of course, I hope it reminds them of space and the partnership that inspired it.
If you were a beer, what ingredients would you be made from?
Kat: I recently did an ancestry test and discovered I'm about 99% British, so I'd probably start with some good British oats. I would like to think I'm a bit more exciting than that though, so you would definitely need to add plenty of citrus. To be honest, Citrus Supernova is probably already me in beer form.
How about you, Isaac?
Isaac: I would start with pale ale malt, but add in crystal barley for a little caramel sweetness. Then I would go for torrified wheat to add some foam, throw in some traditional English Fuggles hops, and a solid ale yeast to round it off.
Sounds lovely. What would you call it?
Isaac: Hmm... ‘Isaac's Beer’!
Nice! So, Kat, what did you actually think of the finished beer when you were off-duty and able to taste it?
Kat: It was excellent. It was really light and refreshing, and it definitely felt like a beer made specifically for me. It was exactly the sort of thing I would normally order.
Would you pair it with any food?
Kat: Because it is so light and easy-drinking, it would work with all sorts of things. A pie would be great, but it would also pair well with meat or even a fresh summer salad.
Finally, what do you hope people think when they raise a glass of Citrus Supernova?
Kat: I hope they think about the collaboration between two long-standing Leicester institutions and all the people whose hard work helps keep both organisations running. It has been a brilliant partnership, and I am proud that we have been able to celebrate our 25th birthday in such a unique way.
Huge thanks to everyone at Everards brewery for helping us celebrate our birthday, and especially to Isaac for taking the time to show us around the brewery. If you would like to try Citrus Supernova for yourself, it is available for a limited time from the Everards Beer Hall at Everards Meadows and selected venues across Leicestershire
