Older people and people living with dementia in and around Bristol are celebrating the launch of their debut beer amid hopes that sales will let others join them in the benefits of gardening, brewing and socialising.

More than 150 residents of St Monica Trust’s retirement villages and care homes have taken part in planting, cultivating and harvesting (above) the hops used to make the 4.2 per cent ABV best bitter dubbed Hundred Not Out in honour of the trust’s centenary.

The new brew results from sessions run by Hoppiness Brews, a Bristol-based community interest company which is pioneering ways to enrich the lives of elders and people with dementia by encouraging creativity, outdoor activity and healthy ageing.

Hoppiness Brews co-founder Guy Manchester said: “Thanks to support from Alive Activities, St Monica Trust and Wiper and True, we’ve been able to involve local care home and retirement village residents, their families and care teams in the full brewing journey from nurturing hops in gardens to deciding on the name of the finished beer.

“Along the way, we’ve delivered therapeutic multi-sensory activity sessions for residents with a diagnosis of dementia which, as well as fostering socialisation and a sense of identity, have also triggered happy memories of earlier get-togethers, including in a place most of us visit at some time in our lives – the pub.”

Wiper and True’s founder Michael Wiper said: “Brewing Hundred Not Out together has been a real celebration of community and creativity. It’s an absolute privilege to see how beer can bring people together across generations and make such a positive impact.”

Among the places involved with the project are St Monica Trust care and retirement sites in Keynsham, Westbury-on-Trym, Sandford and Bedminster, with extra hops coming from care homes in Filton, Redland and Soundwell, and from Alive Activities’ dementia-friendly allotments.

Project participant Caroline Drewell said: “For me it was the joy of seeing residents from our villages and care homes busily picking hops together. It didn’t matter how many you picked or how fast, everyone was contributing and helping each other, with plenty of laughter and chatting.”

St Monica Trust chief executive David Williams added: “It has been a real pleasure watching both the hops and our residents of all abilities, flourishing through their involvement with Hoppiness Brews.

"Hundred Not Out embodies the spirit of connection, contribution and choice that underpins everything we do, and it is the perfect brew with which to toast our 100 years of caring.”

The Wiper taproom will be serving the brew on tap and in cans and will be selling the latter via its online shop: wiperandtrue.com

Other outlets are being sought with any profits from sales being reinvested by Hoppiness Brews into expanding its work with care homes, hop gardens and brewing partnerships in and around Bristol and across the South West.