A BEER dedicated to the late Padgate artist Eric Tucker has been released.

Twisted Wheel Brewing Co in Europa Boulevard was asked to make an extra strong bitter - a nod to the painter’s favourite tipple - in celebration of his work being featured and up for sale in the West End.

It will be available on cask in a selection of pubs, including The Albion in Battersby Lane where Eric used to sit and paint. You can also buy it in cans. 

Eric was dubbed Warrington's 'secret Lowry' when around 370 paintings and thousands of drawings at his end-of-terrace house in King George Crescent when his health began to deteriorate.

That led to a pop-up exhibition at Eric’s home in October 2018 after his death which captured the nation’s hearts.

Warrington Guardian:

Since then the family fulfilled Eric’s final wish to have an exhibition in his hometown with a full showcase at Warrington and Museum and Art Gallery and now art experts have begun to place great value on the unearthed collection. 

Alon Zakaim Fine Art and Connaught Brown have teamed up to present 40 of his pieces in Eric Tucker: The Secret Painter from Saturday until August 3.

But for another taste of the Warrington that Eric knew, all you need to do is go to the pub and ask for 'Tucker's Palette' - the 6% British-hopped bitter.

Laura Dearman, from Twisted Wheel, said: “When we first heard about Eric’s story we loved the idea of creating a beer which celebrated the life and work of a true Warrington artist.

“For a while we have wanted to brew an extra strong bitter for cask. Sometimes the modern craft beer industry can look down on a bitter, but we think it’s something to be treasured, just like our pubs.

“Enjoy a pint and toast the artist, remembering the taste of the pub as Eric painted it.”