NEWS OF THE BREWS
Black Sheep
Black Sheep's strongest ale has picked up the top accolade at the Stockton Beer Festival.
Riggwelter was named Best All-round Beer by a panel of Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) members, who judged 30 of the leading ales from the Yorkshire and north-east area.
The full-bodied, 5.9% abv dark ale won the Strongest Ale heat, before beating off stiff competition to claim the title of Best All-round Beer based on clarity, aroma, taste, aftertaste and condition.
Black Sheep Brewery managing director Paul Theakston said: "The proof of a good ale is in the tasting. To come out on top against tough competition is very rewarding.
"The Stockton Beer Festival does a great job in raising awareness of real ale and Yorkshire brewers and we hope to see continued success for the festival in the future."
The Festival hosted 2,000 people over three days at the start of the month, and was organised by the Cleveland branch of Camra to introduce more of the local community to real ale.
Purity
The National Farmers Union (NFU) has launched a beer to celebrate its centenary year.
Farmers Harvest has been brewed by Purity Brewing, a local farm-based brewery in Warwickshire.
It will be the first alcoholic drink to carry the Red Tractor assurance mark, meaning it has been made using only farm-assured British ingredients.
Claimed to be a full-flavoured beer with a balance of sweetness and bitterness, 4.8% abv Farmers Harvest was the brainchild of finance director Ken Sutherland.
He said: "This is the first alcoholic beverage to carry the Red Tractor mark, which means the beer has been produced here in the UK using British malt and hops and it meets tough standards that are subject to independent inspections."
Above, from left, NFU president Peter Kendall, Julia Mooney, of Assured Food Standards, NFU finance director Ken Sutherland, and Purity Brewing Company sales director Paul Halsey toast the launch.
Batemans
Lincolnshire-based Batemans Brewery has launched a dark amber bitter that comes with a pump-clip made of chocolate.
In homage to flagship XB ale, Eggs-B is a 4.2% abv beer, made using Maris Otter pale ale and chocolate malts with Easter in mind. The names of
the brew and brewer are in white chocolate, and the rest is made from milk chocolate.
Batemans national sales director Andrew Reed said: "We always try to do things a little differently at Batemans - and Eggs-B is a brew we have been hatching for a little while.
"Some people have suggested the pump clips will melt, but our tests have proved this theory untrue. But we believe that temptation may get the better of some licensees - so we will be sending out extra pump clips with orders."
The beer will be available through Batemans's own retail estate as well as through WaverleyTBS, National Drinks Distributors and other leading wholesalers. National operators such as Mitchells & Butlers will also have Eggs-B available through the promotional period.
