Punch licensees team up with Everards to create a new beer

As part of the Everards Gold Cask Ale Champion course, held this week at the Brunswick in Derby, eight licensees were taught brewing techniques before being asked to come up with their own recipe.

Together, they produced Brief Encounter, a 4% ABV “citrus, peach beer with a hint of caramel”.

Brewed with four hop varieties, the beer will go on sale in October and November as part of Finest Cask, Punch’s guest ale scheme.

Everards head brewer Graham Giblett led the team through each stage of the brewing process.

The licensees were then handed responsibility to plan the hops, malt, ABV and colour that forms the beer.

Beer naming​

Claire Cannell, brands manager at Everards, said: “The naming of a beer can often be challenging, but as soon Brief Encounter was suggested we were hooked.

“After we had the name, the design and theme all flowed.”

The latest collaboration between Punch and Everards follows last year’s brew Amberella, which was sold in 225 pubs nationwide last year.

According to John Healy, commercial director at Punch Taverns, initiatives such as the Gold Course present a fantastic opportunity for licensees to learn about the complexity of brewing.

He explained: “After the success of the Ambrella in our autumn rotation last year, we have high expectations for Brief Encounter.”

Healy added: “The fact that it is only available on our Finest Cask range is a big sales driver, as licensees like to offer a variety of cask ales to their customers, and limited edition ales like Brief Encounter provide a unique point of difference against competitors.”