NEWS OF THE BREWS
Hydes in tune with the seasons
Manchester-based Hydes Brewery has a raft of seasonal ales planned for next year under the name "Inn Tune with Hydes".
The 2007 range comprises six ales with each pump clip showing iconic images from classic tunes of the past.
One beer will be released every two months from January, starting with a 4.7% abv ale called Jumpin' Jack.
The other beers include Vertigo (4.2% abv), Golden Brown (4.4% abv) and
Summertime Blue (4.1% abv).
David Safiruddin, Hydes' marketing manager, said: "Hydes has built a great reputation for its craft ales, with sales
growing 12% year-on-year.
"The theme has been designed to make the beers easily identifiable to the customer."
Santa's Piste again
Lancashire-based brewer
Moorhouse's is now rolling out its Christmas brew.
Santa's Piste is a 4.5% abv beer which is described as a "full and fruity ale".
Managing director
David Grant said: "We are brewing more
Santa's Piste this
year as we wouldn't disappoint our customers following its popularity when it was launched last year."
He said the beer creates a point of difference for licensees who want to capture cask ale drinkers and those willing to try something new over the festive period.
The brewer has just signed a deal to supply Premier Bitter to northwest pub company Mitchell's of Lancaster, as well as an agreement with S&NUK for its new beer Blond Witch.
Another comeback by the Stones
Coors Brewers is
relaunching Cask Stones with its original abv of 4.1%. Since the 1990s, the beer has been brewed to 3.7% abv.
Ian Ward, Coors' ales brand manager, said:
"Customers were asking for Stones to be brewed again to its original strength - this, combined with our passion to produce brands of the highest quality meant we were determined to give people what they were asking for."
He said the plan was to increase distribution of Cask Stones in its Sheffield homeland. PoS material will be
supporting the launch, with a new pump clip and posters
telling customers that "Stones is Back".
