Fuller's brings back Hock after 12 years

London brewer Fuller's has revealed that classic mild ale Hock will be the returning hero of its spring beer festival after an absence of 12 years.

Hock, last brewed in 1993, is the "most eagerly anticipated" of the special beers being made available in cask to Fuller's pubs and free-trade customers this spring.

More than 300 pubs are expected to take part in the beer festival that started on 7 March.

"It is not a beer festival in the traditional sense of the word," said spokesman Tony Johnson. "We are making several limited-edition beers available in cask over the coming months. We expect it to be very popular."

The first beer on offer will be London Porter, which is traditionally a bottled export beer. The second will be India Pale Ale, before Hock makes its return around 18 April.

He added: "Last autumn Mr Harry made a return to cask and was very well received. We hope that Hock will do similarly well. It has been missing for a while but it will be back with a bang."