TASTE of Manchester raised a toast to a very special man at the launch of Rhys’s Remedy at the Albert Square Chop House. A tasty, dark session mild but more – a ‘Pint with a Purpose’, developed to commemorate bar manager Rhys James, who lost his battle with lung cancer in February.
For the next 12 months 10p from each £3.75 pint of his beer sold at Albert’s and Sam’s Chop Houses will go to Shine Cancer Support, the only cancer charity in the UK that focuses on supporting people in their twenties, thirties and forties.
After his diagnosis in July 2015 37-year-old Rhys led the North West branch, organising meetings, believing socialising to be a positive contribution in approaching the disease.
Recognising that the needs of his age group were often different – a Shine survey had found younger adults with cancer suffer higher rates of loneliness, isolation, depression and anxiety than their older counterparts – Rhys persuaded his group to meet in the pub.
His widow, Rhea, who hosted the Rhys’s Remedy launch (above), said of him: “The name was never supposed to imply a remedy for cancer; it was always a remedy for the crap that goes with cancer. He also wanted to leave a legacy that was a way of continuing his work for Shine.”
Hence the partnership between the Chop Houses and Middleton brewery JW Lees with Rhys very much hands-on despite his chemotherapy regime. It was obviously a labour of love. Rhea, a 30-year-old teaching assistant, told us: “The enduring image of Rhys will always be sat in a pub surrounded by friends, with a drink in his hands. Rhys was only ever down if he’d gone too long without some form of socialising”.
The final sampling of the real ale at JW Lees brewery in Middleton, North Manchester was ironically the last time Rhys was able to leave the house socially. As well as tasting the ale, Rhys (below) agreed the name ‘Rhys’s Remedy’ in a move typical of his ironic humour.
Chop House boss Roger Ward recalls: “He drank a number of different pints. He used his morphine as a very unusual chaser. And he took a smoking break to fully express his determination to enjoy what was left of his life.
“Then he surprised us by selecting the beer he thought was best for the job. He was not seduced by the charms of an award-winning, complex and strong ale. He chose this one because he thought it was a damned good session pint. He reckoned people might drink more of it, and raise more money.
“Rhys was a great bloke. Someone I learned so much from. I thought it was really important to carry on his work. And to make a positive out of losing him. He helped the Shine Cancer Support Charity to open in Manchester. We want to help finish the job he started.”
The cask ale itself is a smooth, dark 3.8 ABV session mild. with slightly liquorice and chocolatey undertones and a nice malty aftertaste. It will roll out to more pubs across the region shortly with JW Lees confirming a warm welcome for Shine Groups wanting to simply get together.