BrandsBriefs

Amarula sampling campaign

Amarula, the cream liqueur distributed by First Drinks Brands, is rolling out a sampling campaign to reach around 500,000 consumers in the run up to Christmas.Launched this month at the National Wedding Show in Birmingham, the campaign also includes sampling at the BBC Good Food Show and in-store at supermarkets. Andy Corris, brand manager for Amarula at First Drinks, said: "The Wedding Show was an ideal place for us to launch the sampling campaign as the marula tree is known in ancient South African folklore as the Wedding Tree."

'Birthday bitter' from Wye

Herefordshire brewer Wye Valley has launched a cask version of a special bitter to mark the 60th anniversary of the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, across the Severn Estuary at Slimbridge, in Gloucestershire. The 4.5% abv bitter was introduced in bottles earlier in the year and was launched on draught this week at the Tudor Arms in Slimbridge.The pump clip and bottle label both feature a drawing in the style of Sir Peter Scott of two Bewick's swans in flight. Scott founded the trust in 1946. The cask version of the beer is available to Wye Valley's own free-trade customers in the Midlands, and nationally through WaverleyTBS.

Hidden Depths revealed

Wiltshire's Hidden Brewery has introduced a seasonal real ale for 2006, Hidden Depths - a ruby red stout. Made with roasted barley and chocolate malt, the beer has been made for pubs celebrating Hallowe'en and Guy Fawkes as, according to the company, that is when stout-making competitions were traditionally held. Hidden Brewery brewer Gary Lumber said: "Hidden Depths is an aromatic stout which is rich in colour and perfect for drinking in warm cosy pubs as the days get colder."

WKD's clever clogs quiz

Beverage Brands is launching a WKD pub quiz targeting students at the start of the university term. The quizzes will run until the end of November at 15 Scream pubs nationwide, with prizes of £100 for the winners in each venue. Runners-up prizes include cases of the RTD and WKD goody bags.