Unfiltered pale ale Ice Breaker is the first beer developed and crafted by the Bury St Edmunds-based brewer’s apprentices to become part of Greene King’s core range of beers.
The new brew was created under the supervision of Ross O’Hara, who in August 2018 became the youngest person to qualify as a master brewer from the Institute of Brewing and Distilling (IBD) before becoming Greene King’s head brewer in March 2019.
Subject to extensive blind taste testing, the beer – which is described as 'boasting guava, passion fruit and big citrus flavours' – will be available in keg from June across free trade and national pub retailers, including selected Greene King pubs
Ice Breaker becomes the latest addition to drinks lists in Greene King venues after English spirits producer Cotswold Distillery gained a listing with the pubco which will see its inaugural whisky release stocked in more than 700 venues.
Incredibly drinkable
Discussing the creation of Ice Breaker, master brewer Ross O’Hara explained: “When our apprentices first proposed the idea of developing an unfiltered pale ale we were totally up for it and we have chosen a hop combination which is enhanced when in an unfiltered form.
“It is bold in flavour, as you would expect from a modern craft style pale ale, but at 4.5% it’s also incredibly drinkable so you can enjoy more than one.”
Matt Starbuck, managing director of Greene King Brewing and Brands, added: “We decided to bring this beer into the permanent portfolio now as it’s a natural fit alongside our existing fantastic selection of session beers and gives consumers the full range of choice from traditional cask that we are known for to modern, keg pale ales.”
Greene King, which saw like-for-like volume sales for the 52 weeks to 28 April 2019 rise by 2.9%, recently launched LGBT+ network, The Village Greene, at what is thought to be London’s oldest LGBT+ pub.
