Organic nettle beer launched by H&W

A new organic nettle beer, brewed to be enjoyed with a range of dishes, has been unveiled by Dorset brewer Hall & Woodhouse.

Stinger made its first appearance in cask form at last week's Great British Beer Festival but will be primarily marketed as a premium bottled ale.

Hall & Woodhouse, famous for its range of Badger beers, teamed up with celebrity organic food producer Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall to produce the new beer. It is brewed using wild organic nettles grown on Fearnley-Whittingstall's River Cottage estate in Dorset.

The 4.5% abv beer, which gives off a citrus lemon flavour, is said to marry perfectly with robust food such as smoked mackerel and other fish.

Fearnley-Whittingstall, who has championed the concept of organic food production through his Return To River Cottage TV series, said: 'I am delighted with the results and I think we have produced delicious and refreshing beer with character and real depth. It is properly hopped and contains an essential tingle of sting from the nettles.

Rural Revival, an organisation working to sustain the countryside-based economy, will reap a dividend from every sale of Stinger, although essentially the beer will become an important part of the Badger portfolio. It will be sold mainly as a premium bottled brand but it is hoped the beer will appear as a seasonal cask beer next summer.