diff --git a/RELEASING.md b/RELEASING.md
index 1107b8707..198b74d3c 100644
--- a/RELEASING.md
+++ b/RELEASING.md
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 ## Checklist for releasing a new version
 
+1. [ ] Update version in `Alire.Version`.
 1. [ ] Create test release in own fork.
   - To verify builds succeed.
   - As the Windows build can rarely fail, this provides a backup .exe
diff --git a/src/alire/alire-version.ads b/src/alire/alire-version.ads
index 9028dc216..60b41b654 100644
--- a/src/alire/alire-version.ads
+++ b/src/alire/alire-version.ads
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@ package Alire.Version with Preelaborate is
 
    --  Remember to update Alire.Index branch if needed too
 
-   Current : constant String := "2.0-dev";
+   Current : constant String := "2.0-beta1";
+   --  2.0.0-b1:  first public release on the 2.0 branch
    --  1.2.1:     build switches fix and other minor assorted fixes
    --  1.2.0:     rpm speed-up, silence propagation warning, early switch parse
    --  1.2.0-rc1: release candidate for 1.2