Our Premium Bitter: Act of Union
As the first beer in our lineup to leave the production line, Act of Union Premium Bitter represents the very foundation of our future at Atlantic Archipelago. A traditional yet well balanced malted bitter, it is delicious for all occasions and is inspired by the very origins of modern day Britain, a topic that intrigued our founder Kirk following his gap year touring the breadth the UK (find out more here). In the same way it represents our humble beginnings, the inspiration behind its name holds similar meaning.
The first Act of Union legislation was produced by King Henry VIII in 1536, seeking to integrate Wales into the Kingdom of England. Prior to this, Wales had been under the control of England but retained a distinct legal and political identity. The acts abolished Welsh laws and created a unified legal system, establishing English-style counties in Wales and granting Welsh representatives a place in the English Parliament. In 1543, these acts were strengthened further, granting Wales additional MPs for greater representation in Westminster among a handful of other changes.
The second Act of Union in 1707 united the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland into a single entity: the Kingdom of Great Britain. It followed decades of political and economic instability, with numerous battles and a great power struggle between royal English forces and Scottish resistance. This was further exacerbated by conflicts such as the English Civil War and the Jacobite Rebellions, which sought to restore the Scottish monarchy. The Act created a unified parliament in Westminster, though Scotland retained its own legal system and church. The aim was to stem the fighting, provide some concessions, and set ahead a path to a peaceful unified future.
The final Act of Union, in 1800, merged the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland into the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. This act was passed after the Irish Rebellion of 1798 and ongoing unrest in Ireland, with the goal of bringing about greater political stability. It abolished the Irish Parliament in Dublin, consolidating legislative power in Westminster.
The acts then, symbolised the substantial milestones that slowly pieced together the fractured parts of the Atlantic Archipelago, harnessing a vision of collaboration and peace for a better future. Unification was the ultimate aim to operate as a stronger collective and hold greater chance of resisting external threats. As the foundations of modern day Britain, we took inspiration from these pioneering acts and our Act of Union Premium Bitter symbolises this important history.