Wadworth launches 2.8% ABV beer

Lower strength: Wadworth's Small Beer

Wadworth is launching a 2.8% ABV beer which will be on sale in their pubs during January.

The new brand - Small Beer - has been launched to take advantage of the Small Beer Duty Law which came into effect on 1 October 2011.

The new rules on duty levels saw beers below 2.8% ABV receiving a duty cut while beers above 7.5% ABV paying more.

The duty relief will be passed on to Wadworth customers so that the price at the pump will be around £2.50 per pint.

Christine Evers, beer brand manager at Wadworth, said: “It is very rewarding for us to bring good news on pricing to our customers who have been feeling the pinch in their pockets as beer duties have risen over the last few years.

“We have ensured that this time the benefit of the beer duty relief has been passed on directly to beer drinkers. If it as successful as we think it will be, we plan to make this a seasonal ale that will be on sale every January.”

Head brewer, Brian Yorston, said: “It is a real challenge to create a lower alcohol beer with a full flavour.

“This beer has an ABV of only 2.8% and yet we have managed to give it impressive depth by using six different malts along with three hops added at various phases of the brew. The result is layers of flavour and a beer with complexity and body.”