Beamish has launched The Beamish Barter Ring, a new campaign celebrating genuine character by inviting people to trade meaningful possessions instead of money for a limited-edition Beamish Ring.
Created in collaboration with acclaimed Dublin jeweller Joshua Reynolds just 50 handcrafted sterling silver signet rings have been made, each infused with real Beamish stout. The ring is not for sale in the traditional sense; but can be obtained only by trading a personal item with a story, history or sentimental value that money can't buy. The ring bartering system sums up the essence of Beamish’s ‘Genuine Character’ message; character isn’t something you can buy, it’s something that’s earned over time.
Designed as a timeless unisex signet ring in .925 sterling silver, each piece features the iconic Beamish logo and incorporates actual Beamish stout into its design. Reynolds developed a bespoke process to dehydrate Beamish into a fine powder before blending it into a resin, creating the distinctive recessed background behind the logo.
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The Beamish Barter debuted at All Together Now, where Kojaque and Kean Kavanagh hosted the first trading stall to the public, exchanging the exclusive rings for everything from handmade crafts and vintage treasures to well-loved keepsakes. Following the festival, the Beamish Barter will return with Ian Dowling at Newmarket Flea, Dublin 8 on Saturday 16th of August, giving the public another chance to barter for one of the remaining rings.
Beamish has even created its own unofficial ‘Barter Bible’ to guide would-be traders. The rules are simple:
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Bring something unique, handmade, vintage or well used.
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Something you don't see every day. Something that's lived a life. Something with the scars to show for it.
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It doesn't need to have any real monetary value, but it does need to have value to someone.
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Think vintage, not new. Unique, not mass produced. Handmade and well used, never fresh out of the packet.
Speaking about the collaboration, Joshua Reynolds said:
"We wanted to create something timeless that people would genuinely want to wear. The biggest challenge was finding a way to incorporate real Beamish into the design without compromising the craftsmanship. After plenty of experimenting, I found a way to dehydrate Beamish into a fine powder, allowing every ring to contain a small piece of the stout itself. We’re so happy with the final product and reckon it’s definitely a piece worth bartering for!”
Irish rapper, Kojaque, who ran the first Barter alongside Kean Kavanagh at All Together Now said:
“It was great to partner with Beamish on something that felt genuinely different. We saw all sorts come through the stall, but the best part was hearing the stories behind them. It wasn't about who brought the most valuable item, it was about finding something with real character, and that's what made every barter worthwhile.”
Jim Geraghty, Marketing Manager for Beamish Stout commented:
“Beamish has always been about genuine character, so we wanted to create something that reflected that in a tangible way. The ring isn't something you can simply buy – it's something you earn by trading something with a story behind it. Watching people come together to share those stories at All Together Now showed us exactly why this idea resonates, and we're excited to bring the Beamish Barter to Newmarket Flea next.”
Whether it's your favourite handknit jumper, vintage pub memorabilia, artwork or another well-loved treasure, bring it along to Newmarket Flea and see if it's enough to earn yourself a Beamish Ring.
