Russian Imperial Stout was a favourite of Catherine the Great of Russia. It was brewed in England and taken by sea to St Petersburg. The Revolution put an end to the trade. The Great Baltic Adventure seeks to revive it.

Brilliant Beer’s Tim O’Rourke headed an ambitious attempt not just to recreate the once hazardous sea voyage but to promote British cask beers at festivals in Stockholm, Helsinki and Copenhagen as well in the final destination, St Petersburg and Russia beyond.

Mr. Victor Spasskiy, Representative of the Trade Delegation of the Russian Federation in the UK. “There is plenty of beer in Russia, but very little genuine English beer!”

These images show something of the events accompning the launch of venture in Greenwich in 2011.