Beer style matters
Herefordshire micro Wye Valley Brewery has launched a range of half-pint glasses branded with its beer logos in a bid to encourage more people to drink beer with food.
The glasses are part of a mission by brewer Vernon Amor to encourage consumption of beer with meals at the expense of wine.
Other initiatives have seen the introduction of tasting notes, including recommended food matches on the rear labels of the company's bottle-conditioned beers, plus work with local pubs and a butcher to incorporate Wye Valley beers into recipes.
Amor said: "Traditionally-brewed beer is one of the county's greatest treasures but is woefully
underestimated, particularly at the meal table.
"It is important that licensees serving beer with food take extra special care with the presentation. A standard pint or half-pint glass just does not look right and ruins the whole ambience of the dinner table."
Wells & Young's honeypot
Wells & Young's has launched the first Bedford-brewed batch of its Waggledance honey ale.
The seasonal brand was previously part of the Young's portfolio brewed in south London, and is returning for the first time since last year's merger of the Young's and Charles Wells brewing operations.
The ale is made using English Fuggles and Goldings hops, Maris Otter and crystal malts, with its distinctive sweetness coming from the addition of South American honey.
The name comes from the dance that bees perform to each other to show they've found food sources.
Ale brand manager George Wright said: "Waggledance is already well established in consumers' minds as a speciality ale.
"Its unusual name encourages people to buy the ale, and the brand has been established as a favourite in the off-trade sector for five years."
BeeWyched into Fairtrade
Wychwood Brewery is launching its first Fairtrade beer. BeeWyched will debut in Morrison's stores from this week to coincide with National Fairtrade Fortnight.
The 5% abv honey beer is brewed from Chilean Fairtrade honey and comes a week after the Westerham and Freeminer breweries announced that they have each received Fairtrade accreditation for their beers.
Wychwood Brewery managing director Rupert Thompson said: "As Britain's leading organic brewer through our own Brakspear Organic and Circle Master brands - and our brewing of Duchy Originals Organic Ales - we see BeeWyched's Fairtrade values as a logical extension of our support, not only for the environment, but also for producers of our raw materials."