Next year, the UK port of Sunderland will be hosting 80 tall ships at the start of the Tall Ships Races 2018. To support the festivities, Maxim Brewery will be brewing a special nautical themed porter. But what to call it? That is the question at hand. In partnership with The Sunderland Echo and SunFM, the brewery is holding a competition to name the rum-porter. The winner will receive a tour of Maxim Brewery and may even get to help out in the brewing of the Tall Ships beer.  Here is how it will work:

• October 2 to October 13 – Both the Sunderland Echo and Sun FM will hold a joint competition for a Tall Ships cask beer name.
• October 16 – The best entries will be chosen and the top ten will go forward to a public vote.
• October 18 to October 25 – Watch out for details on how you can pick your favorites, through a vote on the Sunderland Echo website.
• November 6 – The name of the winning beer will be announced.

To enter send your suggested beer name by by midday on Friday, October 13 to chris.cordner@jpress.co.uk

Sunderland on River Wear has a long and rich history of shipping and shipbuilding.  The region was once called “the largest shipbuilding town in the world.”  Shipbuilding began on the River Wear in 1346. Throughout its history, Sunderland has had over 400 registered shipyards. The last remaining shipyard closed in 1988.