Bays Brewery Teams Up With Paignton Zoo For Its Cheekiest Charity Brew

Family-run Bays Brewery in Paignton has once again teamed up with its friends at Paignton Zoo to launch its cheekiest charity brew to date, ‘Funky Monkey’.

Available in bottles, cask and beer boxes, the copper-coloured pale ale is bursting with character thanks to its fruity hoppy notes and citrus twist, with 5% of proceeds going to wildlife conservation.  

‘Funky Monkey’ is the latest in a long line-up of limited-edition ‘animal’ ales brewed in partnership with Paignton Zoo, which combined have raised more than £27,000 for endangered species to date.

The special-edition charity ale celebrates Paignton Zoo’s latest plans for ‘Hamadryas Hill’, a brand-new home for their troop of baboons that will allow visitors to see them inside and out.

Director of Bays Brewery, Peter Salmon, said: “We brewed our very first charity brew with Paignton Zoo back in 2013, and are delighted to be teaming up with one another once again in 2024 with a beer inspired by its cheekiest animal residents.

“Funky Monkey will be available for sale on our online shop and at Paignton Zoo’s Island Restaurant, as well as restaurants and shops across Devon from 6 May 2024, so we urge beer lovers to go bananas and raise a toast to a brilliant animal conservation cause.”

Paignton Zoo Events and Corporate Relationship Manager, Katie White, added: “We are thrilled to be working with Bays again for another zoo-themed guest ale. Our partnership with this local business has proved immensely valuable in raising vital funds for our charitable mission to help halt species decline.”

Last year, Bays teamed up with Paignton Zoo for ‘Wild 100’ - an ale that marked the zoo’s centenary year - a fitting tribute to founder Herbert Whitley, the son of a successful brewer from Greenall Whitley brewery.

Other firm favourites served up by Bays Brewery and Paignton Zoo include ‘Orangutan Ale’, ‘Crocod-ale’ and ‘Trunk Ale’, to name a few, with 5% of all proceeds donated to wildlife conservation.

Throughout 2024, the brewery is also supporting a number of other top Devon charities with three further limited-edition charity beers, each giving something back to the local community. 

The first of its charity brews ‘Tracker Ale’ proved a hit when it went on sale earlier this year, raising much-needed funds for the Ashburton division of the Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team. 

Due to take off in July, ‘Chopper Ale’ will support Devon Air Ambulance, while its popular festive tipple ‘Jingle Ale’ will be available from November in aid of Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW).