NEWS OF THE BREWS

Banks's e-zine

Banks's has published an electronic magazine to keep its drinkers up-to-date with the latest news from the music scene.

Banks's List e-zine features news about bands as well as competitions to win tickets to exclusive gigs.

Marston's Beer company brand manager Justin Way said: "We believe that this is a great way to reach our wider audience and is a turning point for Banks's.

"We've designed the e-zine to keep it fresh and up-to-date, to ensure that our readers receive factual information."

Prizes in the first edition include tickets to see Maximo Park in concert, as well as tickets to the gig of your choice at Wolverhampton Civic Hall.

Hydes' third ale

Hydes Brewery has launched the third brand in its 2007 Craft Ale portfolio - Golden Brown.

Hydes produces six special beers within its craft-ale range each year. Products in the brewery's 2007 portfolio take their names and imagery from famous music hits from the last 40 years.

The beer created for May and June centres on the classic Stranglers' hit Golden Brown.

The 4.4% abv beer has been created using the finest English Fuggle and Kent Goldings hops combined with Perle ale malt. Golden Brown will be distributed throughout the country by national wholesalers, as well as throughout the Hydes pub estate, and will also be featured within Scottish & Newcastle's Cellarman's Reserve guest ale programme.

Lacto's UK launch

Lacto Milk Stout, the famous Maltese stout, is now available in the UK. Brewer Simonds Farsons Cisk says it has attracted "considerable interest" from pub groups, brewers and free-trade operators.

Brewed according to the original 1946 recipe, Simonds Farsons Cisk claims it is one of the world's darkest beers, adding that the product is distinctive from other stouts on the market, which tend to be bitter or sweet.

Farsons says that it has revamped the brand's image in response to UK market feedback, but it has been careful to retain the identical characteristics, ingredients and brewing process.