Cycling’s greatest global spectacle will be toasted across Keighley district.

And two breweries are doing their bit to help people raise their glasses to Le Tour.

Timothy Taylor in Keighley and Oxenhope-based Bridgehouse Brewery are both producing special tipples celebrating the arrival of the Grand Depart this summer.

Taylor’s, of Knowle Spring, is creating Le Champion. The brew will be stocked by the company’s estate of 19 pubs from about the middle of this month.

“Le Champion is a 4.5 per cent ABV French-style blonde beer,” said head brewer Peter Eels.

“It is brewed with Alsace Strisselspalt hops and continental malts, which give it a smooth body and a delicate hop fragrance.”

Managing director Charles Dent said the brewery was keen to be involved in celebrations for the world-famous event, which heads from Leeds to Harrogate – through the Yorkshire Dales – on July 5, and then from York to Sheffield via Keighley district the following day.

“Taylor’s pubs will be at the very heart of the Grand Depart,” he said.

“It starts from in front of the Town Hall Tavern in Leeds before passing very close to the Woolly Sheep in Skipton and the Royal Oak at Ripon. On Sunday, they race past the Lord Rodney and Royal Oak, both in Keighley, and the Fleece Inn at Haworth.”

Bridgehouse Brewery’s special beer, On Yer Bike!, has been several months in the planning.

“We wanted to do something to mark the Grand Depart,” said Simon Lamb, sales and marketing director at the Hebden Road brewery.

“With On Yer Bike, we are trying to combine traditional with modern – it’s a 3.6 per cent ABV traditional bitter with a malty taste and a modern spicy twist.

“We will be doing at least two brews, equating to a total of 3,000 pints, but if it’s successful we could do a further run.”

The brew, which will be on sale from the second half of this month, will also feature at the brewery’s second Airedale Beer Festival.

The event, in the grounds of the Airedale Heifer in Sandbeds on June 27 and 28, will feature more than 40 fine cask ales. A band will also play each evening.

l What do you think? E-mail richard.parker @keighleynews.co.uk or write to the Keighley News, 80-86 North Street, Keighley BD21 3AG. Include your name, address and phone number.