Cotleigh’s ‘Commando Hoofing’ – supporting the Royal Marines Go Commando Charity
The Somerset-based Cotleigh Brewery has recently upped the ante in their continuing support of the Go Commando Charity. With three cask beers under their Commando Hoofing brand and a Pump Clip dedicated to the Adam’s Hoofing Hut Charity, Cotleigh are pulling out all the stops to help raise the profile of along with the funds for the charity.
Commando Hoofing is the brainchild of Cotleigh Brewery owner Fredrik Domellof. Whilst no stranger to the Norton Manor Camp (home to 40 Commando, a unit of 3 Commando Brigade), having supported a number of ‘Family Fun Days’, it was in September 2010 that Fredrik made an off-the-cuff remark to the unit’s Sergeant Major that a regimental beer should be produced and launched, for the Taunton homecoming parade on 17 November 2010. And so the idea was born.
With a turnaround of just six weeks, Fred not only managed to create the brew, but also source the bottles and design the label. Then, with the help of the Marines, came up with the name ‘Hoofing’ which is Royal Marine slang to describe something fantastic!
The MoD was quick to approve the label although the brewery did make a slight faux pas with the first design – the dagger was upsidedown!
With the dagger the correct way round, the label was given MoD approval and the bottled beer was launched as ‘Somerset Commando Hoofing’.
As its popularity grew, Cotleigh decided to sell the beer in casks for regional pubs to serve. Then, in early 2011, the name of the beer was changed to ‘Commando Hoofing’, giving wider appeal to the Royal Marines Family in the UK.
The Commando Hoofing cask brand now has three labels: Somerset Commando Hoofing, Lympstone Commando Hoofing and the Bickleigh Bomber.
Cotleigh also designed a commemorative Pump Clip in memory of the 14th fallen hero, 40 Royal Marine Adam Brown: Commando Adam’s Hoofing Hut is sold by a number of pubs in Hampshire and is available in casks.
Cotleigh then added Braille text to the labels and for every bottle of Hoofing sold; 5p is donated to the Royal Marines Family Fund through Go Commando.
COMMANDO HOOFING BEERS
Commando Hoofing: ABV 4% a refreshing pale golden beer with a fruit filled finish. Available in cask and 500ml bottles.
Somerset Commando Hoofing: the first in the line and where it all began in November 2010.
Lympstone Commando Hoofing: second generation in the Hoofing range, named after the Commando Training Centre for Royal Marines in Lympstone, Devon. Lympstone Commando is also the name of the railway station on the Avocet Line, a CTCRM dedicated station.
Bickleigh Bomber: 42 Commando’s own variation of the Commando Hoofing brand and named after the ‘Bickleigh Bomber’ bus that takes the Royal Marines to their unit in Plymouth, the Bickleigh Barracks.
Adam’s Hoofing Hut: a commemorative Pump Clip designed by Cotleigh Brewery and funds raised go towards the purchase of a beach hut in Mudeford, Christchurch for the respite and recuperation of Royal Marines injured in battle.
Fredrik says: “We will continue to develop ideas to support Go Commando and have a number of initiatives in the pipeline that will be unveiled over the coming months”.
Exmoor The Country Magazine will have a case of hoofing to give away as a prize at Dunster Show this year. Come and find us at the show where we will also have Go Commando charity wristbands on sale in support of the Go Commando campaign
