Brothers deal gives Freedom a chance

Freedom Beer is to relaunch its Pilsener brand on 20 August almost a year since its former owner appealed to the Morning Advertiser to help find it a new home.

The relaunch marks the end of a remarkable tale, which began when former owner Duncan Watts said he would give the brand away if he could find a suitable company or individual to take it on.

His search ended at Brothers Brewery, owned by former screenplay writer Steve Knight and brothers Michael and Richard, in April.

The beer has an interesting history for one that is only a decade old it began life in 1995 in Fulham. Freedom was the first microbrewery to specialise in brewing unpasteurised lager to German Reinheitsgebot purity laws.

In 1999, the company started producing organic lager and outsourced its brewing to Germany. While the organic version has continued to be brewed in Germany, production of the Pilsener is now taking place at a new bespoke brewery in Abbotts Bromley, Staffordshire, using Burton water.

The original Freedom master brewer, Ian Ward, is in charge.

'The idea of Freedom is that you have a choice, said Steve Knight. 'It is not one of the usual suspects. It is something different. With the organic and the Pilsener lager we hope to compete with the best the Czechs or Germans have to offer.

The relaunch is supported by radio ads featuring Knight's old friend, TV presenter Chris Tarrant.

'Tarrant loved Freedom and insisted on being paid in beer, said Knight. 'In total it cost us five cases.