Castle Rock
Castle Rock Brewery has
been given a makeover,
with redesigned pump-clips for all of its beers.
This includes Harvest Pale and new introductions Sheriff's Tipple and Preservation Fine Ale, which was launched to support the Custodians of Nottingham Castle, who are working to prevent further erosion of the rock on which the castle sits.
Castle Rock commercial director Colin Wilde said: "The plan is to follow up the draught launch of Preservation Fine Ale with a bottle product next year, some of the proceeds of which will be diverted to this cause. The new identity provides the brewery with a much improved premium image."
Dark Star
West Sussex-based Dark Star Brewery has introduced
smoke of a different kind back into pubs. Available from November, Smoke is a deep golden-coloured 5% abv beer made using Bavarian-style hardwood-smoked barley malt.
This latest brew is the November issue of Dark Star's unique monthly beers - each month a different beer is brewed and available only for that month.
Dark Star brewing director Mark Tranter said: "Every month is a challenge to find different malts and hops to introduce a new style of beer.
"This beer is based on the exceptional beers that originate from Bamburg in Germany - and we couldn't let the opportunity pass to have a smoked beer for Guy Fawkes night."
Moorhouse's
More than 500 firkins of Black Cat will leave the Moorhouse's brewery this month for Wetherspoon pubs throughout the UK. The Lancashire brewer claims the deal is a major business win as it enjoys year-on-year growth.
A further sales boost
is predicted with the
re-introduction of five Hallowe'en brews first seen two years ago - Broomstick Bitter, Witchcraft, Black Witch, Witches Cauldron and Witchfinder General. Promotional support is offered to pubs based on beer volumes, with hundreds of witch models and posters distributed to licensees.
The special brews have lifted sales for Moorhouse's each year by some 35%, making Hallowe'en as busy as Christmas and New Year. Moorhouse's managing director David Grant said: "We can still take orders and will be working to meet customers' needs right up to 31 October."