BBG wins Mahou exclusivity, sustainable spirit launches, professional rugby player unveils beer line-up

Record Store Day UK ‘official beer’ Meantime 33:45 revealed 

The annual celebration of more than 200 independent record shops across the UK, Record Store Day, is gearing up to its 2021 activities on Saturday 12 June and Saturday 17 July with Meantime Brewing Company as its first ‘official beer partner’. 

To mark the occasion, the Greenwich-based brewery will launch an exclusive Meantime 33:45 beer, with proceeds from this special batch brew being donated to affiliated charities of Record Store Day.  

Professional rugby player launches charity-focused beer brand 

Founded by professional rugby player, Greg Bateman – currently playing for the Newport Gwent Dragons – independent beer brand People’s Captain was launched after Bateman addressed his personal battle with depression on social media, and candidly opened up about his mental health struggles.  

The idea for People’s Captain was first ignited when Bateman spoke about his turmoil to a friend over a drink. It was from chatting openly that he set his sights on producing craft beer.

Teaming up with two close friends to launch People’s Captain, Bateman also enlisted street artist Nathan Bowden to design the artwork for the cans. 

The core-range features 5 full-flavoured, sessional beers; Legend, a 4.2% ABV session APA; Islander, a 5.5% NEPA; Short & Stout, a 5.0%, milk stout; Stereotype a 4.5%, lager and ’Tis the Saison a 5.0%, saison.

Bateman incorporated People's Captain to support its very own charity, The People's Captain Foundation, which will take a % of the sales to raise £1m to help boost Britain’s mental health.

Rosemullion Distillery launches cocktail rums

Artisan Cornish distillery, Rosemullion, has launched a new 43% ABV White Rum and a 40% ABV Dark Rum this month.

Andy Bradbury, co-founder of Rosemullion Distillery, said: “Our Spiced Rum, Gold Rum and Chocolate Rum have already got great reputations amongst our customers as being beautifully unique spirits which are best enjoyed neat or with a simple mixer.

“Over the past year, however, we have received a number of requests to create a rum which is best enjoyed as the base to a cocktail, whether that’s for a party at home, or a staple ingredient at a bar or restaurant. We are very excited to have expanded our range to include two new rums specifically for cocktails.”

Both rums are distilled in small, 200-bottle batches to retain their essential flavours.

Shepherd Neame partners with cidermaker Kentish Pip

Kent-based brewer and pub operator Shepherd Neame has announced a new partnership with cidermaker Kentish Pip, based just outside Canterbury.

Both Kentish Pip and Shepherd Neame are long-established independent family businesses, using locally sourced ingredients to create award-winning ranges of ciders and beers. 

The two firms have now teamed up to expand the cider range on offer in Shepherd Neame’s estate.  An exclusive edition of Kentish Pip’s classic apple cider 4.8% ABV Craftsman and berry-flavoured 4% ABV Forager will be available on draught and in the fridge for the first time in selected Shepherd Neame pubs and hotels. 

“The cider market has evolved extensively in recent years with quality and real provenance being key factors that people are looking for,” Sam Mount, managing director of Kentish Pip said.

“Shepherd Neame has put the customer experience right at the heart of what they do and with Kentish Pip’s focus on innovation whilst using the best ingredients, we see this being an exciting partnership, marrying great Kentish cider with great Kentish pubs.” 

Nigel Bunting, head of retail and tenanted operations at Shepherd Neame added: “We are constantly working to develop our offer to enhance the customer experience, and that includes looking for exciting new opportunities to expand our portfolio. We are proud to partner with local company Kentish Pip and introduce their award-winning range of craft ciders to our estate.”

Mangrove adds Sea Arch to alcohol-free offering 

Non-alcoholic drinks specialist Sea Arch – the Devon-based creator of the award-winning Coastal Juniper non-alcoholic distilled spirit – has moved its UK distribution to premium drinks distributor Mangrove UK.

Sea Arch takes the inspiration for its name from a stunning natural sea arch off the coast of Torquay, near Beacon Cove. The spirit is made from natural seaside botanicals, and is free from sugar, sweeteners, calories and allergens.  

“We are really excited to join Mangrove and work with them to take Sea Arch to the next level in the UK,” Sarah Yates co-founder at Sea Arch Drinks said. “There is so much potential within the emerging No & Low drinks category and we trust Mangrove as a partner to work with us to achieve our ambitions, to build the brand while staying true to our environmental pledge."

Nick Gillett, managing director at Mangrove UK added: “An increasing number of people choose not to drink alcohol or to limit their units and drink in a more mindful way.  I am so pleased to be able to welcome Sea Arch to our portfolio to provide a delicious and refreshing option, one, which is kind to the environment and offers a genuinely tasty alternative to alcohol. 

“The Sea Arch ethos fits perfectly with the portfolio I am continuing to build; made up of brands which embody innovation and integrity and are passionate about the environment and sustainability.”

East London bar Coupette launches Apples RTD 

East End cocktail bar Coupette is set to release its signature cocktail, Apples, in a ready-to-drink (RTD) can. 

Designed in London and made in France, the 8% ABV Apples RTD has been created in partnership with drinks brand Maison Sassy. 

“Creating the RTD Apples can was born out of a desire to make the drink more accessible to our fans,” Bar Manager Andrei Marcu said of the launch. “Finding the perfect balance of flavours was a challenge, but after months of development and meticulous recipe tasting, we are confident the drink replicates the same quality as the original serve. 

“Bringing together the on-trade and off-trade has been a dream come true and holding the can in my hand for the first time was incredibly exciting.”

Discarded creates Grape Skin Vodka from wine making waste-products  

Discarded Spirits Co. has announced the launch of Discarded Grape Skin Vodka – a grape-based vodka made using waste-products recovered from the wine making process.

The launch of Discarded Grape Skin Vodka coincides with the re-release of the brand’s full sustainable spirits range – which includes Discarded Cascara Vermouth and Discarded Banana Peel Rum all now in 100% recyclable packaging, from glass to cork to label. 

Discarded UK brand Manager, Sasha Filimonov, said: “We are setting the bar for the spirits industry and challenging industry norms – including with our innovative, 100% recyclable bottle and packaging. 

“We now have fantastic features such as caps made from 100% recycled tin, labels made from fasson cane fibre (made from sugarcane waste), a unique cork that repurposes excess ground cork granules (only 30% of harvested cork makes the grade for the drinks industry) and a bottle that’s made from at least 65% recycled glass content – with scope to increase as our brand grows.”

New premium bottled cocktail range from William Grant & Sons 

Family-owned spirits distiller William Grant & Sons has announced launch of Batch & Bottle as part of its growing drinks portfolio. 

The Batch & Bottle line-up includes a Monkey Shoulder Lazy Old Fashioned, a Hendrick’s Gin Martini, a Reyka Vodka Rhubarb Cosmopolitan, and a Glenfiddich Scotch Manhattan. 

The Batch & Bottle range will be William Grant & Sons’ first entry into the bottled cocktail category, with the range being later launched in Australia from September 2021 and other key markets from early 2022.

Discussing the launch, Karen Murphy, William Grant & Sons global innovation marketing manager, said: “Consumers are adopting a ‘less but better’ mentality and are becoming more discerning about the brands they drink. 

“Batch & Bottle provides an opportunity to showcase the world-class brands in our portfolio, while also providing an uncomplicated solution to perfect cocktail serves created and produced using our industry expertise.”

Sin Gusano becomes ‘UK’s first’ carbon neutral Mezcal 

Drinks brand Sin Gusano claims to be the first mezcal brand in the UK to be certified carbon neutral. 

Working in partnership with MyCarbon, the Sin Gusano project has fully offset its calculated carbon emissions for 2020, and pledges to monitor emissions as the business grows with the aim of lowering them year on year.  

The project encompasses the Mezcal Appreciation Society subscription, limited release bottles, a roaming pop-up mezcal bar and tasting events. It was built around encouraging a more sustainable form of consumption and the protection of biodiversity. 

“Sin Gusano goes many extra miles, all over Mexico, to seek out new and exciting mezcals that have never reached the UK or European market before,” founder Jon Darby said.  

“To tell the story of diversity that agave spirits encompass, inevitably means carbon dioxide emissions. We’ve taken it upon ourselves to offset those emissions by purchasing and retiring carbon credits.”

The project has also pledged to donate 10% of profits to charitable causes, sustainability projects and education programmes in Mexico.

Budweiser Brewing Group secures exclusive distribution of Mahou in the UK

Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I, a part of AB InBev, has announced a new partnership with the Mahou brand in the UK. 

Effective from Monday 19 July, Budweiser Brewing Group will be responsible for the exclusive sale, marketing and distribution of Mahou beer in the UK across all channels.

Through the new partnership with Mahou, Budweiser Brewing Group will bolster its portfolio of beers with an authentic Spanish world beer and roll out a programme to build the Mahou brand in the UK over the coming months, through renewed investment and brand plans. 

“Mahou is an incredibly exciting addition to the Budweiser Brewing Group family,” Paula Lindenberg, president of Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I, said. “Consumer preference for premium brands has continued to accelerate in the UK, with world lager as the fastest growing beer segment. 

“Through our new partnership with Mahou, we’re excited to offer a truly authentic and super premium Spanish world beer to our customers, bolstering our portfolio to provide the strongest brands to best fit evolving consumer trends.”

Erik d’Auchamp, international business unit managing director at Mahou San Miguel, added: “The growing popularity of world lager provides a big opportunity for retailers and pubs alike and Mahou Cinco Estrellas offers something truly unique in the world lager space; a contemporary beer reflecting Spain’s welcoming and extroverted approach to life.

“We’re thrilled to enter into partnership with Budweiser Brewing Group, a brewer which shares our vision to bring Mahou to even more consumers in the UK.”